Former Pakistan cricket team star Basit Ali has voiced concerns over the country hosting the Champions Trophy in 2025. There is already a lot of discussion going on about Pakistan hosting the tournament, considering India’s unwillingness to travel to the neighbouring nation.
Basit Ali demanded the government to assure security arrangements were in place to host CT 2025 seamlessly and warned that it could soon become a dream if steps weren’t taken.
Will Pakistan be able to host Champions Trophy 2025?
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ali noted that teams like England and West Indies were scheduled to tour Pakistan apart from Bangladesh ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. He raised concerns over any incidents impacting the security of the visiting teams during these tours and said that it can impact Pakistan hosting CT 2025. He further demanded an answer from the government on soldiers being allegedly martyred in Baluchistan and Peshawar.
‘God forbid, the Champions Trophy won’t be played here (Pakistan) if there is any accident in these tours. Our soldiers are getting martyred in Balochistan and Peshawar. Only the government can answer why it has been happening, but it is wrong,” Basit Ali said.
He further stressed on the need for every team to get top-level security and claimed that it must be at the level of what the PM or President get. He added that he was sure PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi was aware of the same and would ensure that arrangements were in place.
India’s reluctance to travel to Pakistan has forced the ICC to consider the hybrid model, similar to the one they adopted for the Asia Cup. While Pakistan is fighting with all might to retain the rights to host CT 2025, it remains to be seen what decision the ICC will take. India last visited Pakistan in 2008 during the Asia Cup. After that, geopolitical tensions between the two countries has seen India not traveling to Pakistan and taking on the side only at ICC events and tournaments in neutral venues.
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