Match Highlights: Gilani, Naqvi discuss football–cricket collaboration on sidelines of auction – Key Moments

LAHORE   –  Pakistan Football Fed­eration (PFF) President Syed Mohsen Gilani held a constructive and forward-looking meeting with Federal Interior Minis­ter and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Syed Mohsin Naqvi on the sidelines of the PSL Teams’ Auc­tion 2026, with a commitment to strengthening Pakistan’s sport­ing landscape through inter-institutional col­laboration. 

Federal Min­ister for Over­seas Pakistanis Chaudhary Salik Hussain was also present during the inter­action, which focused on identifying avenues of cooperation between the country’s two major sports bodies. During the meet­ing, both sides exchanged views on sharing best prac­tices in sports governance, institutional reforms, and administrative efficiency. Particular emphasis was placed on infrastructure development, with discus­sions highlighting the need to optimise existing facili­ties, develop multi-sport venues, and ensure sus­tainable use of resources to benefit athletes across disciplines. 

Youth development and grassroots engagement emerged as key themes of the dialogue. The leadership stressed the importance of creating structured pathways for young talent, from school and academy levels to professional platforms, enabling wider participa­tion and long-term ath­lete development. The role of sport in social cohesion, discipline, and youth empowerment was also acknowledged as a national priority. 

The meeting further explored capacity-build­ing within sports insti­tutions, including train­ing of administrators, coaches, and technical staff, as well as adopting transparent governance models to enhance cred­ibility and performance at both domestic and in­ternational levels. 

Both Mohsen Gilani and Mohsin Naqvi re­iterated the need for closer coordination between sports fed­erations, noting that collaboration is essen­tial to uplift Pakistan’s overall sports ecosys­tem. They agreed that cross-sport learning and alignment can help maximise impact, im­prove athlete welfare, and accelerate progress in underdeveloped ar­eas of sport.