The 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is in its home stretch, with India and Australia the frontrunners for a repeat of the last WTC final, which Australia won. Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali also feels it will be an India vs Australia final once again next year, but has a suggestion for the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the subsequent WTC cycles.
“I have one suggestion. WTC mei Pakistan aur India ka match nahin hota because there is no bilateral series (WTC doesn’t feature India vs Pakistan),” said Basit in a video on his YouTube channel. “So ICC needs to take a step and select a venue like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai or Abu Dhabi for India vs Pakistan Test series.”
“These two teams (playing against each other) should also be part of the WTC cycle. Everybody is playing against each other except Pakistan and India…The Indian government always says no, but they play in ICC events like the World Cup…If PCB gives a suggestion, then they (ICC and BCCI) don’t take it seriously, which is wrong,” he added.
India are currently on top of the WTC table, followed by Australia and Sri Lanka. New Zealand’s win over India in the first Test of the series in Bengaluru has kept the Kiwis’ thin hopes of finishing in the top two alive.
After their three-Test series at home against New Zealand, India will travel to Australia for five Tests.
“Four teams are in the top half (of WTC table) — India, Australia, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. But according to mere there are only three — India, Australia and Sri Lanka. But the kind of cricket India and Australia are playing, the WTC final should be between these two teams. Rest we will see what hpannes,” Basit opined.
