NEW DELHI: Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali responded to Ravi Shastri‘s prediction that India will secure a hat-trick of Test series wins in Australia ahead of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy. Basit suggested that statements from Indian and Australian experts are attempts to create hype around the series but believes nothing matches the intensity of an India-Pakistan clash.
Basit Ali emphasized the unparalleled rivalry between India and Pakistan, stating that it surpasses even the historic Ashes series between England and Australia.
“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,” Basit remarked in a YouTube video.He added that the excitement surrounding an India-Pakistan sports rivalry extends beyond cricket. Basit mentioned that even in sports like javelin, kabaddi, or hockey, the enthusiasm among fans would be unmatched. He pointed to the potential buzz around a javelin throw contest between India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, referencing the Paris Olympics where Arshad outperformed Neeraj.
“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,” Basit said. “When Neeraj and Arshad compete in javelin, the whole world will be in front of the television, and the stadium will be full.”
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to kick off later this year in Australia, with the first Test scheduled to be played in Perth starting November 22. However, Basit Ali suggests that despite the significance of this series, it cannot generate the same level of excitement as a contest between India and Pakistan.
Basit Ali emphasized the unparalleled rivalry between India and Pakistan, stating that it surpasses even the historic Ashes series between England and Australia.
“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,” Basit remarked in a YouTube video.He added that the excitement surrounding an India-Pakistan sports rivalry extends beyond cricket. Basit mentioned that even in sports like javelin, kabaddi, or hockey, the enthusiasm among fans would be unmatched. He pointed to the potential buzz around a javelin throw contest between India’s Neeraj Chopra and Pakistan’s Arshad Nadeem, referencing the Paris Olympics where Arshad outperformed Neeraj.
“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,” Basit said. “When Neeraj and Arshad compete in javelin, the whole world will be in front of the television, and the stadium will be full.”
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy is set to kick off later this year in Australia, with the first Test scheduled to be played in Perth starting November 22. However, Basit Ali suggests that despite the significance of this series, it cannot generate the same level of excitement as a contest between India and Pakistan.