ICC Champions Trophy 2025: Basit Ali exposes ICC's 'lollipop to PCB' for accepting hybrid model

Former Pakistan National Cricket Team player Basit Ali came up with a massive statement related to the developments surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. He said that the ICC is giving a lollipop to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for accepting the hybrid model for the tournament.

The issues surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 reportedly have reached a conclusion. It is learned that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has accepted the Hybrid model and ICC too has agreed to some of their demands for hosting the tournament in the two-nation formula.

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 set to be played in hybrid model, ICC accepts demands of PCB

To accept the hybrid model for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wanted all the ICC events to be played in a hybrid model till the next cycle ends. This seems to be accepted by the ICC but the global cricket body won't be giving any compensation to the Mohsin Naqvi-led Board.

It is learned that Pakistan won't be travelling to India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 as the game between the two arch-rivals will be played in Colombo. Notably, the tournament is all set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Not only this, ICC also has claimed they will be allowing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to host the ICC Women's tournament after 2027. The official announcement related to the same will be made soon and it is learned that UAE will be hosting all the India games in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

"It’s being done so that in 2026, the Pakistan team will travel to India - Basit Ali

Basit Ali while talking about developments surrounding the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 said that everyone will be happy that Pakistan will host two events. But he claimed that this is being done so that Pakistan goes to India in 2026 and broadcasters don't face loss. Speaking in a video posted on his YouTube channel, he explained:

“Now it is being said that in 2027 or 2028, a women’s World Cup will be given to Pakistan. Everybody will say, ‘waah ji waah! This is great, not one but two ICC events (in Pakistan)!’ But what’s the point of events like these?

"It’s being done so that in 2026, the Pakistan team will travel to India and the Indian women’s team will then come to Pakistan. The broadcasters won’t suffer any losses."

This is a lollipop the ICC is giving to the PCB - Basit Ali

Basit Ali further claimed that ICC is giving a lollipop to PCB and they won't get any benefit by hosting the Women’s World Cup or U-19 World Cup. He explained:

"Do you know what a lollipop is? This is a lollipop the ICC is giving to the PCB…that if you agree to this, don’t ask for anything in writing and we will give you another ICC event. This won’t be of any benefit (to Pakistan).

"They should rather bid for the Asia Cup, which is next year. The PCB should ask for this. The PCB won’t benefit by hosting the Women’s World Cup or U-19 World Cup. If the PCB accepts this lollipop, they’ll be the losers.”

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