Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has taken a dig at the team amid their performance in the T20 World Cup and has suggested that India should give them a player like Abhishek Sharma. The explosive Indian opener is yet to open his account in the ongoing tournament and has been dismissed for three consecutive ducks. However, Ali feels that Sharma would be a better fit in Pakistan’s side, flagging the opening woes that the side is currently facing amid the ongoing tournament.
‘Give us Abhishek Sharma’
In a video on his YouTube channel, Ali claimed that despite registering three ducks, Abhishek is a match-changer and that he was simply waiting for the Super 8 stage to explode. Referring to the batter as a slogger, the former Pakistan star opined that the country needed a batter like him in the shortest format of the game.
“Give us one like him. The breaking news for me is that Abhishek scored the third zero. He has made a record of 0-0-0 — a string of ducks equalling the likes of Saeed Anwar and Atta-ur-Rehman. He is a match changer. I had a lot of expectations from Abhishek, and I think he is simply waiting for the Super 8 matches,” Ali said.
Ali took a dig at Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson and questioned the playing XI. His remarks come after Pakistan’s campaign so far in the T20 World Cup, where they won three out of four league stage matches, with their only loss coming against India. He further added that it made no sense for Fakhar Zaman to be included in the squad when he has been warming the bench throughout.
“I don’t understand why Abrar Ahmed was not played. I don’t understand whether this is Pakistan’s team or Mike Hesson’s team. You make the team by looking at the opposing team — which unfortunately Mike Hesson is not doing,” Ali added.
The former cricketer came down hard at the Pakistan team, claiming that they were treated as a child at the hands of India.
“India has beaten you like a child. Their skill level, their awareness, their temperament — they are way ahead of us. Way ahead. There is no doubt about it,” Ali said.
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