Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali has said that Jay Shah made a smart move by ensuring India gets the hosting rights for the 2025 edition of the Asia Cup as well. Apart from being on the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Shah is also the president of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) as well. And, the 2025 Asia Cup will be played in the T20 format which India will host for the first time since 1990.
Opining that Shah should shift the competition to some other country, Basit Ali said in his latest YouTube video: “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 Ali, however, added 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 also added that India could use a hybrid model for the tournament, hoping that Pakistan also agree to do the same for the Champions Trophy as well.
“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,” he again shared.
The 2025 edition of the Champions Trophy is all set to be played in Pakistan. However, India are not ready to send their team to their
neighboring country and are reportedly pushing for a hybrid model as well. Basit Ali also opened up on how Jay Shah won’t be able to get the decision of the 2025 Champions Trophy in BCCI’s favour.
“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,” he concluded.
