Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi hosted players and officials from Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka at a special reception at Lahore Fort, bringing together the three international cricket teams for an evening celebrating Pakistan’s cultural heritage and hospitality.
The event, held on Wednesday at one of Lahore’s most prominent historical landmarks, featured a royal-style welcome, guided tours of Mughal-era architecture, traditional performances and a dinner for the visiting delegations.
A royal tour of Lahore’s rich history ✨
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi hosts Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka teams at Lahore Fort, giving the players and officials a taste of the city’s heritage and culture 💫
#CricketKaJashan | #PAKvSL | #PAKvENG https://t.co/PpicLwy6Pt
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 28, 2026
The reception took place during the tri-nation ODI series, whose league phase has since concluded. England defeated Sri Lanka in the final league-stage match on Thursday, with Pakistan and Sri Lanka set to contest the final.
Beyond the cricket, the gathering provided the PCB with an opportunity to welcome international players and officials to Lahore and introduce them to some of the city’s best-known cultural and historical sites.
Mohsin Naqvi welcomes international teams to Lahore
Naqvi personally received the players, team management and match officials at Lahore Fort’s Alamgiri Gate, where the visiting delegations were greeted as special guests.
Addressing the foreign visitors, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi said: “You are all our special guests. Pakistan is a peaceful and safe country, and the Pakistani nation has a special passion for cricket.”
📸📸
#PAKvENG | #PAKvSL | #CricketKaJashan https://t.co/ZqPHE0Oqe5
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 29, 2026
The reception brought together representatives of all three participating teams, with England and Sri Lanka’s players and officials joining their Pakistani counterparts for the evening.
Visiting players later expressed appreciation for the arrangements, describing the occasion as memorable and welcoming the opportunity to experience Lahore’s historic landmarks.
Match officials also praised the reception and the hospitality extended to them.
Lahore Fort’s Mughal heritage takes centre stage
The programme included a guided tour of Lahore Fort, allowing the international delegations to explore several of the complex’s most recognisable architectural attractions.
Players and officials visited Diwan-e-Aam, Diwan-e-Khas, Sheesh Mahal and Barood Khana, receiving briefings on the history and significance of the locations.
At Diwan-e-Khas, guards dressed in Mughal-era clothing welcomed the guests, reinforcing the historical theme of the reception.
📸 Glimpses from a special evening at Lahore Fort, as PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi hosted the Pakistan, England and Sri Lanka squads for dinner 🇵🇰🇱🇰🏴
🎥 https://t.co/D64dvGE8qy
#PAKvENG | #PAKvSL | #CricketKaJashan https://t.co/uqvjw2IO6A
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) October 29, 2026
The delegations also toured nearby landmarks, including Badshahi Mosque, Hazuri Bagh and the Tomb of Allama Muhammad Iqbal, the celebrated poet and philosopher.
Traditional entertainment formed another part of the programme. A performance by the Dholi Chi group, featuring the distinctive rhythms of the dhol, drew enthusiastic applause from visiting players.
Colourfully decorated rickshaws provided another highlight, with foreign players enjoying rides as part of their experience of Lahore’s local culture.
The evening concluded with a dinner hosted in honour of the participating teams and officials.
Senior PCB and PSL executives attend reception
Alongside the players and coaching personnel, the event attracted several prominent figures from Pakistan’s cricket administration.
Former PCB Chairmen Zaka Ashraf and Ramiz Raja attended, as did PCB Chief Operating Officer Sumair Ahmed and Pakistan Super League (PSL) Chief Executive Officer Salman Naseer.
Other attendees included former cricketers, senior PCB officials, Sri Lankan diplomats and the Punjab Chief Secretary.
The presence of current and former cricket administrators made the reception a gathering of key figures from Pakistan’s cricket establishment as well as an occasion for the international teams.
PCB showcases Pakistan’s hospitality during tri-nation series
The Lahore Fort reception formed part of the PCB’s hospitality arrangements for the three teams participating in the ODI tournament.
By hosting the delegations at a major historical venue rather than a conventional event setting, the board placed Lahore’s cultural heritage at the centre of its welcome to the visiting players and officials.
The PCB also shared video footage and photographs of the occasion on its official X account, capturing the historic setting, cultural performances and interactions between the cricket delegations.
With the league phase now complete, attention turns to the tri-nation ODI series final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka, following an off-field gathering that brought all three participating teams together at one of Lahore’s most celebrated landmarks.
