Former cricketer Basit Ali has spoken out about India’s uncertain participation in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 and recommended that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) adopt a strategy similar to that of Sri Lanka during the 1996 World Cup.
The Champions Trophy is scheduled to be held in Pakistan between February and March 2025, but reports suggest that India may not participate due to security concerns. Sources from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have indicated that Team India will not travel to Pakistan for the tournament. On Sunday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) reportedly informed the PCB that the Indian government had not granted permission for the Indian team to travel to Pakistan.
This news was met with disappointment from many former Pakistani cricketers, including Basit Ali. In a video on his official YouTube channel, Basit advised the PCB to look at the example set by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) during the 1996 World Cup, which was jointly hosted by Pakistan, India, and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka went on to win the tournament, but the event was marred by a controversy when Australia and the West Indies refused to travel to Sri Lanka due to security concerns.
Despite Sri Lanka’s assurances of full security, Australia and the West Indies held their ground, refusing to play in Sri Lanka. In response, the ICC awarded Sri Lanka the points for their games against both teams, resulting in a forfeit. Sri Lanka earned valuable points, qualifying for the quarter-finals without even playing the matches.
Basit Ali urged the PCB to adopt a similar approach if India refuses to participate in the Champions Trophy. He suggested that if the tournament adopts a hybrid model where some matches are played at neutral venues, the PCB should demand that Pakistan be awarded points for matches against India if India fails to travel to Pakistan. He also stated that Pakistan, as the host nation, should play all its matches on home soil. If the location of the tournament is changed, Basit recommended that Pakistan should boycott the event altogether.
“Pakistan should be awarded two points if India refuses to play in Pakistan,” Basit emphasized. “As the host, Pakistan should insist on playing all their games at home, and if the venue is shifted, the PCB should consider pulling out of the tournament entirely.”
