Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has called for the relocation of the Asia Cup 2025 from India, following India’s recent award of hosting rights for the tournament.
In a recent video on his YouTube channel, Ali criticized Jay Shah, the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), accusing him of deliberately complicating Pakistan’s participation in future cricket events.
“Well done, Jay Shah. You’ve managed to kill two birds with one stone,” Ali remarked. “But Basit Ali can kill three birds with one stone. Here’s some free advice: consider moving the Asia Cup to another country. Jay Shah might reconsider after my show.”
Ali suggested that Pakistan might refuse to travel to India for the Asia Cup unless the BCCI agrees to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025. He described Shah’s decision as a strategy to promote a hybrid model for both events.
“Jay Shah knew that India would need to visit Pakistan for the Champions Trophy; otherwise, Pakistan won’t come for the Asia Cup. Pakistan might even skip the T20 World Cup if India refuses to participate in the Champions Trophy. Forget about the hybrid model. There could also be a scheme where India adopts a hybrid model for the Asia Cup to pressure Pakistan into doing the same for the Champions Trophy,” Ali said.
While Pakistan has firmly opposed relocating any Champions Trophy 2025 matches, the BCCI has yet to make an official statement about India’s travel plans to Pakistan.
Ali also commended Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chief Mohsin Naqvi for his strategic acumen, comparing him favorably to Jay Shah.
“I acknowledge that Jay Shah is very sharp, but the current PCB chairman is equally skilled. Now, you will need to openly declare that the Asia Cup is in India, which means we would have to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy,” Ali concluded.
Pakistan is preparing to host its first major tournament since the 2008 Asia Cup, making considerable efforts to ensure its success. However, India’s reluctance to travel for the Champions Trophy 2025 remains a significant obstacle for the PCB.
