“If they are not willing to play for Pakistan then we should not play either…”: Ex-captain slams BCCI over reported refusal to play CT 2025

Former cricketer Basit Ali has strongly reacted to India’s reported reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Taking to his YouTube channel, Basit criticised other international cricket boards for aligning themselves with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“5-6 Bode Joe Haina Dam Hirate Huye Wo Bad Karenge Joe Jay Shah Borenge. [There are 5-6 board who will wag their tails and listen to Jay Shah says]” he said on his channel.

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The former cricketer further said that if Jay Shah wants to host the tournament in Pakistan, everyone will listen to him and if the BCCI secretary general wants a hybrid model for ICC events, everyone will agree to it.

Ali also commented on reports that the India vs Pakistan bilateral series may be held at a neutral venue. While Pakistan Communist Party chairman Mohsin Naqvi has denied such suggestions, Ali strongly believes Pakistan should be refused permission to play India in a third country.

“The Pakistan board should say no to matches in third countries. If India does not want matches in our country, then we should not agree to matches in other countries either,” he said.

Basit Ali’s reaction comes amid multiple reports surfacing that India is unlikely to travel to Pakistan for the ICC Champions Trophy in 2025. “Safety” is the main reason why India is hesitant to fly to the arch rival country. Given the situation, the BCCI is now planning to request the ICC to adopt a hybrid model whereby India’s matches would be allocated to another country.

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A similar situation occurred last year with the 2023 Asia Cup. Initially, Pakistan was named as the official host of the tournament. However, after India refused to host the matches in Pakistan, the ACC announced that all the Men in Blue matches would be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka. India defeated Pakistan at a neutral venue and went on to beat Sri Lanka in the final to win the Asia Cup.

Due to political tensions, India has refrained from playing in Pakistan for the past 16 years. The 2008 Asia Cup was their last match in Pakistan. The last bilateral match between the two countries was in 2012-13, when India hosted Pakistan for two T20Is and three ODIs. India and Pakistan have only faced each other in ACC and ICC tournaments for the past 12 years.

A similar situation occurred last year with the 2023 Asia Cup. Initially, Pakistan was named as the official host of the tournament. However, after India refused to host the matches in Pakistan, the ACC announced that all the Men in Blue matches would be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka. India defeated Pakistan at a neutral venue and went on to beat Sri Lanka in the final to win the Asia Cup.

Due to political tensions, India has refrained from playing in Pakistan for the past 16 years. The 2008 Asia Cup was their last match in Pakistan. The last bilateral match between the two countries was in 2012-13, when India hosted Pakistan for two T20Is and three ODIs. India and Pakistan have only faced each other in ACC and ICC tournaments for the past 12 years.