"Try to shift 2025 Asia Cup to some other country" - Basit Ali's advice for Jay Shah
Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali has suggested that Jay Shah made a smart move by ensuring India get the hosting rights for the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup. Apart from being the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Shah is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
The 2025 Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format. India will host the continental tournament for the first time since 1990. Opining that Shah should shift the competition to some other country to avoid a no-show from Pakistan, here's what Basit Ali said in his latest YouTube video (from 10:10):
"Well done, Jay Shah. You've killed two birds with one stone. You kill two birds with one stone, but Basit Ali kills three birds with one stone. Now let me give you some free advice. Try to shift the Asia Cup to some other country. Jay Shah could take a U-turn after my show."
Basit reckoned that India got the hosting rights for the 2025 Asia Cup because the BCCI has realized that they will have to travel to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy. He claimed that India could use a hybrid model for the tournament, hoping that Pakistan also agree to do the same for the Champions Trophy, adding (11:20):
"Jay Shah knew that India would have to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy otherwise Pakistan won't come for the Asia Cup. Pakistan won't even go for the T20 World Cup if India say no for the Champions Trophy. To hell with the hybrid model. There could also be another lollipop of India adopting a hybrid model for the Asia Cup so that Pakistan do the same for the Champions Trophy."
The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy is set to be played in Pakistan. However, India are reluctant to send their team to their neighboring country and are reportedly pushing for a hybrid model.
"Jay Shah is very sharp, but the guy in front of him, the current PCB chairman, is also in the same league" - Basit Ali
In the aforementioned video, Basit Ali also spoke about how Jay Shah won't be able to get the decision of the 2025 Champions Trophy in BCCI's favor. He mentioned that current Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi is in the same league as Shah.
Claiming that India will now have to announce that they are ready to tour Pakistan, Basit Ali remarked (from 12:00):
"I agree Jay Shah is very sharp, but the guy in front of him, the current PCB chairman, is also in the same league. Now you will have to come forward openly and declare that the Asia Cup is in India, so we would have to go to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy."
It is worth mentioning that there was a similar stalemate between BCCI and PCB during the 2023 Asia Cup. The event was set to take place in Pakistan. However, following India's reluctance, a hybrid model was introduced. Just four matches were held on Pakistani soil and Sri Lanka hosted the remaining fixtures.