If Jay Shah says the Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan, they will agree; if he says it will be a hybrid model, they will also go along with it: Former Cricketer

Former Test cricketer Basit Ali has criticized BCCI Secretary Jay Shah for allegedly influencing other cricket boards regarding the 2025 Champions Trophy. Basit Ali accused Jay Shah of exerting undue influence on other boards according to his priorities. Despite security concerns, Pakistan retains the hosting rights for the 2025 Champions Trophy.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has already started preparations for the event, including stadium renovations. However, India participation remains uncertain. Recent reports suggest that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) may request the International Cricket Council (ICC) to move India matches to a neutral venue, as it is expected that the Indian government will refuse to approve the team travel to Pakistan.

Expressing his disappointment with the BCCI stance, 53-year-old Basit Ali shared his concerns in a YouTube video. He claimed that Jay Shah has considerable influence, stating, "5-6 cricket boards blindly follow his directions." Basit Ali added, "There are 5-6 boards that will wag their tails and say what Jay Shah says. If he says the Champions Trophy will be in Pakistan, they will agree. If he says it will be a hybrid model, they will go along with that too."

The former Test cricketer suggested that Jay Shah has garnered support from major cricket boards by offering substantial payments for player participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL). He argued that this financial benefit has created a situation where other cricket boards are compelled to align with Jay Shah decisions.

He explained, "The reason is that when their players play in the IPL, the BCCI pays those boards a hefty amount, whether it the English board, New Zealand board, West Indies board, or Australian cricket board." Recently, the budget for the 2025 Champions Trophy was formally approved at the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual meeting in Colombo.

According to local media reports, this approval was given on the final day of the meeting. The host country, Pakistan, was represented by PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who was present at the meeting. The budget was carefully prepared by ICC Chief Finance Officer Ankur Khanna and PCB Chief Finance Officer Javed Murtaza. The Champions Trophy will be held from February 19 to March 9, 2025.