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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed strong concerns over the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) potential agreement to a reported deal with the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding the 2025 Champions Trophy. Basit termed the proposed arrangement a “lollipop” that would ultimately undermine Pakistan cricket’s interests, especially in terms of hosting rights and financial compensation.
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The Proposed Deal
According to reports:
- A hybrid model for the 2025 Champions Trophy has been proposed, where India’s matches will be played in Dubai due to political tensions, instead of Pakistan, the designated host.
- Pakistan, in turn, will not travel to India for their league-stage match during the 2026 T20 World Cup. The match will reportedly be played in Colombo, Sri Lanka, while India and Sri Lanka jointly host the event.
- In exchange, the ICC has allegedly promised Pakistan hosting rights for the Women’s World Cup post-2027.
This compromise has sparked debates over potential revenue losses for the PCB, particularly from the marquee India-Pakistan clash, a significant source of income.
Basit Ali’s Concerns
In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali criticized the PCB, claiming the deal offers little real benefit to Pakistan cricket. He emphasized that hosting high-profile men’s tournaments like the Asia Cup would provide far greater value.
“Now it is being said that in 2027 or 2028, a Women’s World Cup will be given to Pakistan. Everybody will say, ‘waah ji waah!’ But what’s the point of events like these? It’s being done so that in 2026, the Pakistan team will travel to India, and the Indian women’s team will then come to Pakistan. The broadcasters won’t suffer any losses,” Basit remarked.
He accused the ICC of using this compromise as a tactic to avoid giving Pakistan written guarantees for future benefits, warning that the PCB could end up on the losing side of the deal.
Economic and Cricketing Implications
Basit Ali argued that Pakistan would gain little from hosting the Women’s World Cup or an U-19 World Cup, given their lower commercial value compared to men’s tournaments. Instead, he urged the PCB to focus on securing the hosting rights for the Asia Cup next year, which would bring significant economic and cricketing advantages.
“Do you know what a lollipop is? This is a lollipop the ICC is giving to the PCB. They should rather bid for the Asia Cup, which is next year. If the PCB accepts this lollipop, they’ll be the losers,” he added.
A Dangerous Precedent?
Basit also warned that accepting this arrangement could set a dangerous precedent, compelling Pakistan to make further compromises in the future. This includes the possibility of bilateral matches being arranged to accommodate broadcasters’ interests at the expense of Pakistan’s cricketing sovereignty.
The ICC’s Stance and PCB’s Dilemma
Reports suggest the PCB is under pressure to accept the hybrid model to ensure the Champions Trophy proceeds smoothly. However, the ICC’s refusal to provide financial compensation for revenue losses from the Indo-Pak matches has made the deal more contentious.
The PCB has yet to officially confirm its stance on the matter, but the decision will undoubtedly have lasting implications for Pakistan cricket’s financial and global standing.
What’s Next?
With the Champions Trophy and T20 World Cup being high-stakes tournaments, Pakistan cricket fans and experts await PCB’s decision. Whether the board will prioritize short-term arrangements or long-term benefits remains to be seen.
