Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali on Monday, called for the relocation of ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 from India.
Ali, while speaking on his YouTube channel, did not mince his words to slam Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Jay Shah for what he termed a strategic move to put Pakistan’s participation in upcoming major tournaments in jeopardy.
“Well done, Jay Shah. You’ve killed two birds with one stone. You kill two birds with one stone, but Basit Ali kills three birds with one stone. Now let me give you some free advice. Try to shift the Asia Cup to some other country. Jay Shah could take a U-turn after my show” Ali said.
Ali then suggested that Pakistan might refuse to travel to India for the Asia Cup 2025 if the BCCI decided against sending their national men’s team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
“Jay Shah knew that India would have to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy; otherwise, Pakistan won’t come for the Asia Cup. Pakistan won’t even go for the T20 World Cup if India says no for the Champions Trophy.
“To hell with the hybrid model. There could also be another lollipop of India adopting a hybrid model for the Asia Cup so that Pakistan do the same for the Champions Trophy.”
The former cricketer then went on to praise Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, stating he is as sharp as his BCCI counterpart Shah.
“I agree Jay Shah is very sharp, but the guy in front of him, the current PCB chairman, is also in the same league. Now you will have to come forward openly and declare that the Asia Cup is in India, so we would have to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,” Basit Ali concluded.
It is worth mentioning here that India refused to tour Pakistan for last year’s Asia Cup and the continental event was thus, held in a hybrid model with Sri Lanka emerging as a co-host.
As per the hybrid model, Pakistan could host only four matches while the rest of the games were played in Sri Lanka including the final.
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