Basit Ali Warns PCB Against Champions Trophy Deal

The International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are contemplating a hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy. In this model, India would play its matches in Dubai rather than Pakistan, which has sparked widespread debate and criticism, particularly from former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali.

Basit Ali criticized the PCB for considering this arrangement, labeling it a ‘lollipop’ that lacks substantial benefits for Pakistan cricket. He expressed concerns that accepting the deal might harm the national cricket scene. The plan, as part of a larger ICC strategy, aims to accommodate political tensions between India and Pakistan, the latter being a necessity due to existing diplomatic issues.

A key point of contention is the potential revenue loss for Pakistan Cricket due to the matches moving to Dubai. The ICC has refused to offer financial compensation to the PCB for any revenue shortfall resulting from matches between India and Pakistan not being played on Pakistani soil.

Further complicating matters, as part of this potential deal, Pakistan will not travel to India for the 2026 T20 World Cup league-stage match. Instead, this match is scheduled to take place in Colombo, Sri Lanka, with India and Sri Lanka being joint hosts for the tournament.

Reports suggest that in exchange for these adjustments, the ICC promised Pakistan hosting rights for a Women’s ICC tournament post-2027. However, Basit Ali urged the PCB to instead focus on hosting the men’s Asia Cup due to its economic and cricketing significance, which might offer more immediate benefits to Pakistan cricket.

These developments also reflect broader geopolitical issues impacting sports events in the region. The debate surrounding the hybrid model for the Champions Trophy indicates the complex nature of cricket diplomacy involving India and Pakistan, where cricket often mirrors political tensions.