Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has suggested that Pakistan should be awarded two points if India refuse to play them in the big clash on Pakistani soil in the Champions Trophy. Basit Ali said that even if the tournament is held in a hybrid model, Pakistan should play all their matches at home and if India refuse to travel, then the hosts should be handed two points.
In a direct appeal, Basit Ali urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to push for automatic points if India opts not to travel. Ali’s statement comes amid a debate following the BCCI’s official communication to the ICC, citing security concerns as a reason for India’s reluctance to play in Pakistan.
The issue is gaining traction, with the PCB now escalating the matter to the Pakistani government, who, in turn, has reportedly expressed opposition to a hybrid hosting model.
India refused to travel to Pakistan for ICC Champions Trophy 2025
The Pakistan Cricket Board has been put in a tricky position once again by the BCCI after they told the ICC that India won’t travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year. The PCB has already started preparations for the mega ICC event, as the stadium’s renovation began months ago, but now speculations are rife that the tournament will be held in a hybrid model.
Basit Ali’s suggestion on India-Pakistan stalemate ahead of 2025 Champions Trophy
Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali recently gave his take on India’s unwillingness to tour Pakistan for the upcoming 2025 Champions Trophy. He opined that even if the competition is played in a hybrid model, all of Pakistan’s matches should be played on their home soil. He pointed out that they have the hosting rights.
Basit Ali suggested that Pakistan should be awarded two points if India refuse to play their match against them on Pakistani soil. Basit Ali pointed out that Sri Lanka were handed points after West Indies and Australia forfeited their respective 1996 World Cup fixtures. They did so due to the bombing at the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-expert said :
“Do you remember that in the 1996 World Cup Sri Lanka got 2-2 points after West Indies and Australia did not go. Try to put India and Pakistan in different pools, the ICC will refuse. Pakistan and India are always in the same pool because of money. If there is a hybrid model and India don’t visit Pakistan, give Pakistan two points. It has happened before too, so try it now.”
It is worth mentioning that the BCCI have already sent an email to the PCB, confirming that the Indian team won’t visit Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. The Pakistani board has forwarded the email to the ICC.
Basit Ali sends stern warning to ICC ahead of 2025 Champions Trophy
Basit Ali emphasized that Pakistan should not agree if they aren’t allowed to host all of their matches on home soil. He reckoned that Pakistan should not participate in the 2025 Champions Trophy if the tournament is shifted to another country.
The 53-year-old claimed that the ICC won’t be able to ban Pakistan even if they boycott the 2025 Champions Trophy. Basit Ali said in the aforementioned video:
“Pakistan should play all their matches in Pakistan. It is as simple as that. Pakistan should not participate if the Champions Trophy is taken from them and conducted in some other country. People are saying that the ICC will ban Pakistan if they don’t participate. Try to ban Pakistan if you have the courage. Everyone will lose their sleep.”
The upcoming ninth edition of the Champions Trophy will be a 50-over tournament that will feature the top eight teams of the format. The same situation happened last year when India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup as the ACC had to adopt the hybrid model, with the majority of matches being played in Sri Lanka, including the final.
The BCCI has not sent its cricket team to Pakistan since 2008, when the Men in Blue last came for the Asia Cup under Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s captaincy. Meanwhile, Pakistan have toured India for a bilateral white-ball series in 2012-13, the T20 World Cup in 2016 and the 50-over World Cup last year.