"Trying to create hype" - Basit Ali on Ravi Shastri's prediction for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy
Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali recently reacted to Ravi Shastri predicting that India will complete a hat-trick of Test series wins on Australian soil. He opined that Indian and Australian experts will continue making such statements to try and create hype around the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Basit, however, suggested that the series between India and Australia cannot match the intensity of the India-Pakistan rivalry. Claiming that even the Ashes cannot match the hype of a match featuring the two Asian nations, here's what he said in his latest YouTube video (from 2:18):
"I think they are trying to create hype. The whole world knows that India vs Pakistan is on one side and everything else is on the other side. Even Ashes isn't that big. So, you are going to hear such statements now."
The upcoming edition of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played Down Under later this year. The Test series opener between India and Australia is set to be played in Perth from November 22.
"Just conduct a bilateral series of hockey, javelin, or kabaddi between India and Pakistan" - Basit Ali
In the video, Basit Ali further stated that even if India and Pakistan compete in sports like javelin, kabaddi, or hockey, there will be more excitement among the fans compared to a cricket series between India and Australia.
He reckoned that when India's Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan's Arshad Nadeem compete in a javelin throw contest, it will generate terrific buzz, adding (from 2:52)
"Arshad Nadeem beat Neeraj Chopra at the Paris Olympics, otherwise, it was a certain gold medal for India. The Indian cricket team has made it clear that they won't travel to Pakistan, so just conduct a bilateral series of hockey, javelin, or kabaddi between India and Pakistan in some other country and you will know whether the India-Australia series is bigger or the India-Pakistan match is bigger. When Neeraj and Arshdad compete in javelin, the whole world will be in front of the television and the stadium will be full."
India and Pakistan could next square off on the cricket field in the upcoming 2025 edition of the ICC Champions Trophy. Pakistan are the host for the multi-national tournament.