- Former cricketer Basit Ali urges the Pakistan Cricket Board to take a firm stance on India's participation in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.
- Ali suggests the PCB should follow Sri Lanka's handling of the 1996 World Cup, where Australia and the West Indies refused to travel due to security issues.
- Ali suggests that if India refuses to play in Pakistan, Pakistan should be awarded two points for any match India refuses to play in Pakistan.
The ninth edition of the Champions Trophy is set to take place in Pakistan in the February-March window of 2025, but India’s involvement is currently in doubt. Reports have indicated that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is unlikely to send the Indian cricket team to Pakistan, citing security concerns. Sources confirmed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has informed the PCB that the Indian government has not granted permission for their team to travel to Pakistan.
This development has sparked discontent among former Pakistani cricketers, including Basit Ali, who voiced his opinion on the matter through a video on his official YouTube channel. Ali believes the PCB should take inspiration from Sri Lanka’s handling of a similar situation during the 1996 World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka.
During that tournament, Australia and the West Indies had refused to travel to Sri Lanka due to security issues. Despite Sri Lanka's assurances of robust security measures, both teams remained firm in their decision. As a result, the ICC awarded both games to Sri Lanka by forfeit, giving the host nation four crucial points. Sri Lanka advanced to the quarter-finals before even playing a match, ultimately going on to win the tournament.
Ali proposed that the PCB should adopt a similar strategy if India refuses to play in Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. He suggested that if a "hybrid model" is implemented—where some matches are played at neutral venues—Pakistan should be awarded two points for any match India refuses to play in Pakistan.
"PCB should demand points if India refuses to play in Pakistan in case of a hybrid model, similar to the 1996 World Cup situation," Basit Ali stated. "Pakistan should be awarded two points if India doesn’t come here to play."
"Pakistan, being the host, should play all their matches on home soil [in case of a hybrid model]. And if the host location changes, Pakistan should refuse to participate."
