Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has vehemently criticized the reported reluctance of India to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ali accused several international cricket boards of blindly following the dictates of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Ali alleged that these boards, including the English, New Zealand, West Indies, and Australian boards, are swayed by the financial incentives offered by the BCCI when their players participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He claimed that these boards would readily agree to any proposal put forward by BCCI President Jay Shah, including the relocation of the Champions Trophy to a neutral venue.
Ali also commented on the recent developments involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. He suggested that Naqvi had been given false hope by other boards that Pakistan would be granted a bilateral series against India after the Champions Trophy, potentially in a third country.
However, Ali strongly advocated against Pakistan agreeing to play the bilateral series in a neutral venue if India refused to play in Pakistan. He argued that the PCB should maintain its stance and refuse to compromise on the principle of home advantage.
Ali's comments come amidst reports that the Indian cricket team is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy in 2025. The BCCI is reportedly planning to request the ICC to adopt a hybrid model, with India's matches potentially being played in Sri Lanka or Dubai.
The ICC Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan from February to March 2025. Due to tense political relations, Team India has not played in Pakistan since the Asia Cup in 2008. The last bilateral series between the two nations occurred in 2012-13, with India hosting Pakistan for two T20Is and three ODIs.
A similar situation arose during last year's Asia Cup, which was initially planned for Pakistan. However, all of India's matches, including those against Pakistan, were held in Sri Lanka, with the final taking place in Colombo, where India emerged victorious.
Tags: #ICCChampionsTrophy, #PakistanCricket, #IndiaCricket, #BasitAli, #BCCI
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