Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has raised his voice against India’s perceived dominance within the International Cricket Council (ICC). The controversy stems from India’s reported reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.
Basit Ali addresses the other bards as “Puppets”
Basit Ali claims that all cricket-playing nations are mere puppets of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). According to him, they will follow whatever the BCCI Secretary, Jay Shah, dictates. This assertion highlights the immense power wielded by the BCCI in shaping cricket decisions globally.
“5-6 boards jo haina dum hilate huye woh baat karenge jo Jay Shah bolenge (Those 5-6 boards just follow whatever Jay Shah says). PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has been given a lollipop. Basically, he’s been told (by other boards) that after the Champions Trophy, we (Pakistan) should play a bilateral series against India. Whether it’s in Australia or England, they’ll (other boards) convince India to play,” said Basit on his YouTube channel.
The strained political relations between India and Pakistan have spilt over into cricket. The BCCI’s decision not to send its team to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy reflects this tension. Basit suggests that the BCCI’s influence extends beyond its own borders, affecting other cricket boards’ decisions.
“If he says the Champions Trophy will be in Pakistan, they’ll agree. If he says it’ll be a hybrid model, they’ll go with that too. It’s because when their players play in the IPL, BCCI pays their boards a huge amount whether it’s the English board, New Zealand board, West Indies board, or Australian board,” Ali stated.
Basit points out that the BCCI’s financial clout plays a significant role. When Indian players participate in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the BCCI compensates other cricket boards handsomely. This financial incentive influences decisions related to tournament venues, formats, and more.
India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral series since 2012-13. The political turmoil between the two nations has kept them apart. As a result, India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the upcoming mega event is consistent with this historical context.
Also Read: IOA President Thomas Bach Promises Spectacular Paris Olympics Amidst Global Challenges
. The controversy stems from India’s reported reluctance to travel to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy 2025.){kind=link}