When former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali speaks, he doesn’t hold back—especially when it comes to cricketing politics. And with the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 looming, he’s got some strong words for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Basit believes the PCB should channel the defiant stance that Sri Lanka took back in the 1996 World Cup. But what’s the story here, and why are past cricket controversies becoming so relevant now? Let’s take a look.
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The Champions Trophy Conundrum
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is set for Pakistan in early 2025. Yet, there’s uncertainty in the air, with India’s participation hanging in the balance. Citing security concerns, reports in the Indian media suggest that India might not travel to Pakistan for the tournament.
The ICC, according to sources, has even told the PCB that the Indian government is not on board with sending its players to Pakistan. Naturally, this decision hasn’t gone down well in Pakistan. Former cricketers, including Basit Ali, are voicing their concerns—and they’re asking the PCB to stand its ground.
A Flashback to 1996: What Happened with Sri Lanka?
Here’s where history comes into play. In the 1996 World Cup, Sri Lanka co-hosted the tournament alongside Pakistan and India. But things got messy when Australia and the West Indies refused to play their scheduled matches in Sri Lanka, also citing security concerns.
Despite Sri Lanka’s assurances of full-proof security, the two teams stood firm and skipped their games. Sri Lanka didn’t take this lightly. Instead, they got the ICC to award them four points for those forfeited games, pushing them straight into the quarter-finals.
The Advice of Basit Ali to PCB
Basit Ali thinks Pakistan should take a similar approach if India pulls out of the Champions Trophy. In a video on his YouTube channel, Basit advised the PCB to demand points if India skips their matches in Pakistan.
According to him, Pakistan deserves the same consideration as Sri Lanka received in 1996. “PCB should demand points if India refuses to play in Pakistan,” Basit said. “Pakistan should be awarded two points if India doesn’t come here to play.”
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But he didn’t stop there. Basit suggested that if the ICC decides to move the tournament to a neutral location or adopt a hybrid model, the PCB shouldn’t just accept it. He believes Pakistan should refuse to play at any neutral venue and should boycott the event if it’s moved entirely. After all, as the host nation, Pakistan has the right to play on its home soil.
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