India's refusal to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy next year has irked fans and former players across the border, who have criticised the International Cricket Council (ICC) and urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to not accede to any demands of making the tournament hybrid or taking it out of Pakistan altogether.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially communicated to the ICC that the
Indian team can't travel to Pakistan for the tournament, which is scheduled to be held from February 19 to March 9, 2025.
Also See: Live Cricket Score"Wherever cricket is played in the world, it won't be complete without an India vs Pakistan match...Both ICC and the broadcaster know this," said former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali on his YouTube channel.
While commenting that the demand for India vs Pakistan match tickets can take the prices 10-20 times higher, Basit said it's such a hot property that any ICC tournament is not possible without the two teams facing off.
"You put both the teams in different pools, and then go ahead with the tournament. ICC will deny that. Why are they always in the same pool? Because it's a money spinner," he added.
There have been talks of a hybrid model being adopted for the Champions Trophy, with India playing all their matches in the UAE.
Talking about the possibility, Basit recalled the 1996 World Cup, when Australia and West Indies refused to travel to Sri Lanka and had to forfeit their matches and the points were awarded to the Lankan team.
He said PCB should demand that if India refuse to play Pakistan in Pakistan in case of a hybrid model.
"Do you remember that in the 1996 World Cup Sri Lanka got 2-2 points after West Indies and Australia did not go. Play the hybrid model; and if India don't come to Pakistan, then give two points to Pakistan. That's my advice to PCB. It happened in 1996 as well. Do it now too," said the 53-year-old Basit.
"Pakistan should play all their matches in Pakistan. It is as simple as that. If it is hosted somewhere else, Pakistan should refuse to play. People are saying ICC will ban you. Try doing it if you have the guts. Everyone will lose their sleep!" he challenged.
"Ab kya karega ICC (now what the ICC will do)?" he asked with a sarcastic tone. "Australia came (to Pakistan), England came, New Zealand came. Were there no security reasons then?"
The TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the ...
Read MoreThe TOI Sports Desk excels in a myriad of roles that capture the essence of live sporting events and deliver compelling content to readers worldwide.
From running live blogs for India and non-India cricket matches to global spectacles featuring Indian talents, like the Chess World Cup final featuring Praggnanandhaa and the Badminton World Championships semifinal featuring HS Prannoy, our live coverage extends to all mega sporting events. We extensively cover events like the Olympics, Asian Games, Cricket World Cups, FIFA World Cups, and more.
The desk is also adept at writing comprehensive match reports and insightful post-match commentary, complemented by stats-based articles that provide an in-depth analysis of player performances and team dynamics.
We track news wires for key stories, conduct exclusive player interviews in both text and video formats, and file content from print editions and reporters. We keep track of all viral stories, trending topics and produce our own copies on the subjects.
We deliver accurate, engaging, and up-to-the-minute sports content, round the clock.
Read Less