ICC Champions Trophy 2025: "If India don't come to Pakistan..." - Basit Ali's bold advice to PCB & ICC

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali recently spoke about India's refusal to come to Pakistan to play in the Champions Trophy next year. Basit gave bold advice to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to award two points to Pakistan if India does not visit the country for the match.

Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) informed the International Cricket Council (ICC) about India's reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025 after consulting with the Indian government.

The ICC then mailed BCCI's response to the host board, PCB, who in turn decided to take the matter to their government. The Pakistani government has reportedly informed the PCB not to allow the tournament to be hosted in a hybrid model.

Also read: Jason Gillespie attacks Cricket Australia for neglecting Pakistan series, prioritizing BGT 2024-25

India-Pakistan match is a "money spinner" - Basit Ali

While speaking in a video on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali claimed that an ICC tournament is incomplete without the matches between India and Pakistan. The former Pakistan batter further added that the India-Pakistan match is a "money spinner" as it generates a huge amount of revenue despite the prices of tickets on a record high.

"Wherever cricket is played in the world, it won't be complete without an India vs Pakistan match. Both ICC and the broadcaster know this. You put both the teams in different pools, and then go ahead with the tournament. ICC will deny that. Why are they always in the same pool? Because it's a money spinner," Basit said.

Speaking about the proposed hybrid model for the tournament, Basit Ali cited the example of the 1996 Cricket World Cup when Australia and West Indies refused to travel to Sri Lanka due to security concerns and had to forfeit points.

Basit Ali's bold advice to PCB for Champions Trophy 2025

Basit Ali asked the PCB to give two points to Pakistan if India doesn't travel for the group stage match between these two teams. He advised Pakistan to play all the matches in their country, otherwise they should refuse to play.

"Play the hybrid model; and if India don't come to Pakistan, then give two points to Pakistan. That's my advice to PCB. It happened in 1996 as well. Do it now too," Basit reckoned.

"Pakistan should play all their matches in Pakistan. That's the straight talk. If it is hosted somewhere else, Pakistan should refuse to play. People are saying ICC will ban you. Try doing it if you have the guts!" he challenged the ICC.

"Ab kya karega ICC (now what the ICC will do)?" he asked with a sarcastic tone. "Australia came (to Pakistan), England came, New Zealand came. Were there no security reasons then?"

Final dates for the Champions Trophy yet not finalized

Pakistan are in Group A according to the draft schedule. They are slotted with India, Bangladesh, and New Zealand. According to the draft schedule, the tournament will run from February 19 to March 9.

The final dates of the schedule have not been finalized yet. It will be finalized once India's participation is confirmed. However, it will be a tough decision for the ICC to take any further decisions.