Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has harshly criticized India’s reported unwillingness to tour Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. Given the strained political relations between India and Pakistan, the BCCI is unlikely to send the Indian team to next year’s ICC event hosted in Pakistan.
The 53-year-old claimed that the BCCI exerts overwhelming influence over the ICC , with other countries essentially acting as its puppets, following the orders of BCCI Secretary Jay Shah. Basit further suggested that the PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi is being proposed with a bilateral cricket series against India, despite the unlikely possibility of the Indian team traveling to Pakistan.
“The cricket boards of 5-6 countries simply says yes to whatever Jay Shah decides. Meanwhile, PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been offered a concession, as other boards have told him that after the Champions Trophy, Pakistan should play a bilateral series against India – whether it’s held in Australia or England, they’ll persuade India to participate,” Ali said.
Basit revealed that the BCCI’s financial clout allows it to sway the decisions of other cricket boards in its favor.
“The boards will agree to whatever the BCCI decides about the location and format of the Champions Trophy, because the BCCI pays them substantial sums when their players participate in the IPL, regardless of whether they represent England, New Zealand, the West Indies, or Australia,” he added.
The last bilateral cricket series between India and Pakistan was played in 2012-13, with the matches hosted in India. Since then, the two nations have not held any bilateral series due to the ongoing political tensions between them. Given the strained relations, it is highly unlikely that India will travel to Pakistan for the major cricket event scheduled for next year.
Following India’s decision of not travelling to its neighbor, Asia Cup 2023 had to be cohosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Similarly, the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is expected to have either Sri Lanka or the UAE serve as a co-host to accommodate India’s participation.
According to the draft schedule submitted to the ICC, Pakistan has placed all of India’s matches in Lahore. However, the schedule is expected to be revised once India officially communicates its unwillingness to travel to the country.