Tag: Basit Ali

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has stirred the pot with a bold claim, suggesting that all-rounder Salman Ali Agha is set to become the country’s next Test captain, and potentially take the reins across all three formats.

Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Basit extended his congratulations to Salman, hinting at a dramatic shift in leadership within Pakistan cricket.

While the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to make anything official, Basit’s post has added fuel to growing speculation around a major captaincy shake-up.

According to earlier reports, a leadership overhaul was already on the cards.

Saud Shakeel had emerged as the likely candidate to replace Shan Masood in Tests, while vice-captain Salman Ali Agha was seen as the frontrunner to take over ODI duties from Mohammad Rizwan.

However, fresh developments suggest that the PCB is now considering a more sweeping change, with Salman potentially being elevated as Pakistan’s all-format captain.

The move, if confirmed, would signal a new era for Pakistan cricket, especially in the longest format, where results have been far from convincing.

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Shan Masood, who was appointed Test captain in November 2023, has endured a turbulent tenure.

Under his leadership, Pakistan played 12 Tests, winning just three and losing nine, including series whitewashes against Australia, Bangladesh, and South Africa.

The disappointing run saw Pakistan finish ninth in the current ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 2023–25 standings.

Pakistan’s next Test series is scheduled for October 2025, when South Africa are set to tour for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, known for his bold remarks, has stirred the conversation once again, this time by prematurely announcing the return of Misbah-ul-Haq as national red-ball head coach.

Basit posted a picture of Misbah in Pakistan’s Test jersey on X (formerly Twitter), with a caption that read: “Red-ball’s head coach, Misbah-ul-Haq. Congratulations.”

This was shared despite no official confirmation from either Misbah or the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The cryptic yet confident post came just hours after the PCB confirmed Mike Hesson as the new white-ball head coach of Pakistan.

The former New Zealand coach will officially take charge from May 26, following the conclusion of PSL 10, where he is currently heading Islamabad United.

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Sources also revealed on Tuesday that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has decided to part ways with five high-profile mentors who were previously appointed for the Champions Cup.

The mentors include former captains Misbah-ul-Haq, Waqar Younis, Shoaib Malik, Sarfaraz Ahmed, and former head coach Saqlain Mushtaq.

Furthermore, it is reported that Misbah and Sarfaraz may take on different roles within the PCB, which supports Basit Ali’s claim that Misbah could become the head coach for the red-ball format.

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For those who need a refresher: Misbah-ul-Haq served as the head coach of Pakistan from 2019 to 2021, during which time the team played 16 Test matches, winning seven and losing six.

While his overall tenure wasn’t disastrous, it certainly didn’t leave a lasting tactical impression, especially in the longer format.

His conservative approach often came under fire, and critics have long questioned his decision-making and game awareness in crunch situations.

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Former cricketer Basit Ali has criticized the Pakistan cricket team’s poor performance against New Zealand, stating that their downfall began after the Asia Cup 2023 group stage match against India.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali remarked that the Green Shirts’ decline started the day Indian batters hammered Pakistani bowlers in the Asia Cup.

Pakistan suffered a crushing defeat by 228 runs in the fourth match against arch-rivals India, thanks to sublime centuries from KL Rahul and Virat Kohli.

“The first match of the Asia Cup against India got washed out because of rain. The way Virat and Rahul hammered our bowlers, since then neither Pakistan’s batting nor bowling has stabilised. In last year’s T20 World Cup, we couldn’t chase 119,” he said.

He warned that if the national team continues to play like that, they may have to play qualifying rounds to secure a spot in major tournaments.

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“If we don’t make decisions and improve our base, we will have to play qualifying rounds,” he remarked.

“We lost all 10 wickets to pacers. Our top-order batters got out early. Talent has finished in Pakistan. Pakistan’s cricket starts with Babar Azam’s name and ends with it,” Basit further stated.

It is pertinent to mention that after a dismal performance in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, the Men in Green suffered a 4-1 in the T20I series against New Zealand.

Aiming to bounce back in the One Day International series, Pakistan instead lost the first two matches by 73 and 84 runs, respectively, conceding the three-match series 2-0 with one game remaining.

The Black Caps outplayed Pakistan in all departments of the game, further exposing the national team’s struggles.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali criticized the national cricket team after a crushing defeat against New Zealand at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.

Chasing a daunting total of 221, Pakistan’s batting order collapsed under the pressure, getting bowled out for only 105 runs.

Pakistan team encountered early difficulties, losing their top three batters within just two overs. Openers Mohammad Haris (2), Hasan Nawaz (1), and skipper Salman Ali Agha (1) were dismissed in quick succession.

After this shaky start, the Pakistan team struggled to recover in their chase against New Zealand.

Their vice-captain, Shadab Khan, fell for a mere one run in the fourth over, leaving the team in deep trouble with a score of 26-4 after just 4.1 overs.

The Men in Green lost wickets regularly against a well-disciplined New Zealand bowling attack and were ultimately bowled out for a modest total in 16.2 overs.

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Following the loss, Basit Ali criticized the Pakistan team, indicating that the Men in Green should compete against lower-ranked teams if they wish to continue with this squad.

“Kids are not playing against us. If you want to keep this team, do it against Nepal or Ireland.”

“You are wasting time. Just like the domestic T20 tournament is a waste of time and money, this tour is just like that. It is better to play against Bangladesh, ” he said.

After losing the first two T20Is, Pakistan bounced back in the third match, thanks to an unbeaten century by Hasan Nawaz.

However, in the fourth T20I, the Pakistan team was thoroughly outplayed in every department of the game, eventually losing by a margin of 115 runs, their highest in the shorter format.

With New Zealand taking a commanding 3-1 lead in the series, the final T20I in Wellington on Wednesday is now merely a formality.

READ: David Warner appointed as Karachi Kings’ captain for PSL 10

Former cricketer Basit Ali has taken a dig at Babar Azam’s father, Azam Siddique, questioning his cricketing credentials and sarcastically suggesting that if he considers himself Babar’s coach, he should focus on fixing his son’s technical flaws.

Basit’s comments came in response to Siddique’s recent Instagram post, where he defended his son following his exclusion from Pakistan’s T20I squad for the New Zealand series.

In his post, Siddique not only backed his son but also issued a strong warning to former cricketers, urging them to choose their words carefully when criticizing.

“To the great former cricketers, I humbly request you to be mindful of your words. If someone chooses to respond, you might not be able to handle it. You are part of the past, and there is no way back for you,” Siddique wrote.

Addressing those who claim that Babar’s father speaks too much, Siddique didn’t hold back. “For those who say that ‘his father talks too much,’ let me make it clear—I was his first and only coach, spokesperson, mentor, and above all, his father,” he added.

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He further advised cricket fans to check the playing records of Babar’s critics before taking their words seriously, urging them to visit the PCB website to analyze their performances.

Responding to these remarks on ARY’s show Har Lamha Purjosh, Basit Ali mockingly questioned Siddique’s authority in coaching Babar.

“We didn’t know Babar Azam’s coach is his father [Azam Siddique]. That’s great! He must have played a lot of cricket, then. Not sure how many Test matches he played, but I request him to fix Babar’s technical flaws,” Basit remarked in a taunting tone.

Meanwhile, former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal also weighed in on the matter, stating that while every father has the right to support his son, making public statements after a player is dropped is not a good practice.

“Every father loves his son. Some openly express it, while others leave it to fate. There’s no doubt about Babar’s contributions to Pakistan cricket, but he must evolve with modern-day demands. However, posting statements after a player is dropped is unnecessary,” Akmal said.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed that Salman Ali Agha’s selection as captain for the T20I series against New Zealand is part of the national selectors’ strategy to make Shadab Khan the skipper.

Agha on Tuesday, became Pakistan’s fourth T20I captain since January 2024, following Shaheen Shah Afridi, Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan.

Ali indicated that the New Zealand tour will prove to be a significant challenge for the team, and if they underperform, Agha will likely be replaced by Shadab.

“The selectors appointed Salman Ali Agha because they are looking to install Shadab Khan as captain,” he remarked.

“The upcoming tour will be tough, and then Shadab will be ready to step in. Let Shadab play; he’s a talented player, and if he performs well, he’ll be back,” Ali stated.

He also raised concerns about Agha’s suitability for the T20 format, arguing that while Agha excels in Test and ODI cricket, he is not well-suited for T20s.

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“Salman Ali Agha is a good player in Tests and ODIs, but he isn’t a T20 player. The selectors are overlooking this fact,” Ali said.

Basit Ali criticised the national selectors for favoritism in their squad selections for the New Zealand tour, claiming a chaotic situation has arisen.

“Pakistan has announced their teams, and it’s created a major mess. Players were chosen based on various individuals’ preferences. A team shouldn’t be formed this way. They might just be trying to mislead the public,” he concluded.

It is pertinent to note that the series between Pakistan and New Zealand will run from 16 March 16 to 5 April, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs. The T20I series will kick off in Christchurch on 16 March, while the second match is scheduled to be played in Dunedin on 18 March.

The third match will be played in Auckland on 21 March, while the subsequent games are scheduled in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on 23 and 26 March, respectively.

Following the T20I series, the teams will travel to Napier for the first ODI, scheduled for 29 March. The second ODI will be played on 2 April in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the final ODI on 5 April.

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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has slammed the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) reported decision to rest senior players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Following Pakistan’s disastrous ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign, reports surfaced suggesting that the PCB was considering giving key players a break for the white-ball series, which is set to run from March 16 to April 5, featuring five T20Is and three ODIs.

However, Basit Ali isn’t buying the narrative of “resting” players. Speaking on ARY News’ show Har Lamha Purjosh, he called the move a farce, claiming that senior players would eventually return once the younger replacements failed to deliver in New Zealand.

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“It will be said that Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi faced injustice in selection,” Basit remarked.

Instead of resting them, the former cricketer believes that the PCB should be upfront about their intentions and inform Babar, Shaheen, and Rizwan that they are no longer part of the T20I setup.

“You should tell them that we will not consider you for the T20I team,” he added.

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Pakistan’s senior players have been under fire ever since their shocking group-stage exit from the Champions Trophy 2025.

Consecutive defeats against New Zealand and India left them at the bottom of Group A with just one point, as their final match against Bangladesh was washed out in Rawalpindi.

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Former cricketer Basit Ali believes that if Pakistan defeat India in their high-stakes ICC Champions Trophy 2025 match tomorrow, it will be an upset given the current form of both teams.

Basit Ali, while speaking on ARY News’ show Har Lamha Purjosh, assessed Pakistan’s current form and stated that India are overwhelming favorites heading into the contest.

“The way Pakistan is playing cricket, India has an 85 percent chance of winning, while Pakistan’s chances stand at only 15 percent,” Basit remarked.

“If Pakistan wins, it will be a big upset.”

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Echoing his sentiments, former wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal also acknowledged India’s dominance and stated that while an upset is possible, Pakistan will need to strike early with the ball to stand a chance.

“We can call it an upset because the Indian team is complete,” Akmal said. “The only chance for Pakistan to win is by taking early wickets with the new ball.”

Highlighting Pakistan’s weaknesses, Akmal pointed out their struggles in the middle overs and lack of bowling depth.

“We only have one spinner in the middle overs, we are not taking wickets with the new ball, and we are conceding too many runs in the death overs,” he added.

Going a step further, Akmal predicted that India have a 90 percent chance of winning, leaving Pakistan with just a 10 percent probability of pulling off a victory.

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It’s worth noting that Pakistan are looking to bounce back after a disappointing 60-run loss to New Zealand in their opening match in Karachi.

Meanwhile, India started their Champions Trophy campaign with a convincing win against Bangladesh as they comfortably chased a 229-run target against Bangladesh, thanks to a brilliant 101-run knock by Shubman Gill.

Historically, Pakistan has a slight edge over India in the Champions Trophy, winning three out of their five meetings.

Their last encounter in the tournament was the 2017 final, where Sarfaraz Ahmed’s side produced a dominant performance, thrashing India by 180 runs to lift their first-ever Champions Trophy title.

READ: Champions Trophy: What are Pakistan’s chances if India clash gets washed out?

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has slammed the decision to promote star batter Babar Azam to play as an opener ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

His comments came in the wake of Pakistan’s thumping five-wicket loss in the tri-nation ODI series final against New Zealand at the newly renovated National Bank Stadium in Karachi on Friday.

Basit Ali, while speaking on his YouTube channel, stated that winning the tri-nation would have boosted the confidence of the squad going into the mega-event.

“If Pakistan had won the tri-nation series, the confidence level of every player would have been high,” he said.

“Winning this tri-nation series could have boosted morale. Now, what will be your confidence level? Cricket is a game of confidence, and if that is shaken, you are left behind.”

The former batter then criticised the decision to open the innings with Babar, despite the right-hander’s exceptional record at number three.

“Who advised Babar Azam to open the innings? I am surprised by this decision,” Basit questioned.

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“What kind of thinking is this? He was performing well at number three, scoring 50-70 runs against South Africa, but they changed his position.

“Now, just 62 runs in three matches in the tri-series. This is the approach and mindset of the management.”

Basit Ali also opened up on the comparison of Babar Azam with Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar.

“They say even Sachin opened the innings and scored a century in his first match in Sri Lanka. But you removed Babar from No. 3, where he was excelling, and now you’ve destroyed his rhythm,” he said.

For the unversed, Babar’s performance in this new role has been underwhelming, with low scores of 10, 23 and 29 in the recently concluded tri-nation ODI series.

The defending champions and hosts Pakistan will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19, followed by the much-awaited clash against arch-rivals India at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

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Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his views about the high-octane match between Pakistan and India in the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Ali compared the team combinations of the two sides ahead of the eight-team tournament.

According to Basit Ali, India will have the upper hand in the match due to their players’ experience while Pakistan’s fragile middle order will be a concern.

“Most of our middle-order batters have not played for Pakistan in a long time. I think India have a 70 percent chance while Pakistan will have a 30 percent chance in the game, given India is a more experienced side,” he said.

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Additionally, Ali believes that the game between arch-rivals will be even in case Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli fail to regain form before the all-important Champions Trophy 2025 match.

“If Virat and Rohit are not in form, then the game will be even,” he concluded.

For the unversed, the defending champions and hosts Pakistan and India have been placed in Group A alongside New Zealand and Bangladesh.

The Men in Green will begin their ICC Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a game against New Zealand on February 19, and India will play their first match against Bangladesh on February 20 in Dubai.

The arch-rivals India and Pakistan will face off each other at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on February 23.

Pakistan will play their third and final group match in Rawalpindi against Bangladesh on February 27.

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