Basit Ali is bewildered by the Pakistan cricket team’s choices. In the ongoing tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, the Men in Green have changed the position of their best ODI batter, Babar Azam. A lifelong number three, the former Pakistan captain has played 104 of 121 matches at three.
Why is Babar Azam playing as an opener?
But against New Zealand on February 8, Babar opened the innings. It was just the third time he had faced the brand-new ball. Basit can’t understand how or why Pakistan did so. “Is this some kind of book cricket? What are you doing?”You are playing without an opener, and you have made Babar Azam an opener. Go for specialists,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
The reason why Pakistan changed Babar’s position was because Saim Ayub has been ruled out of the ICC Champions Trophy, and they don’t have another opener in the team. The former Pakistan cricketer didn’t like the change, and to explain how things should be done properly, he cited how the India cricket team handled the situation.
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Pakistan should learn from India, says Basit Ali
After Virat Kohli was injured in Nagpur, the Men in Blue played both Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal. However, when Kohli came back, Jaiswal was benched with Shubman Gill, who batted at three, returning to his opening spot, and Shreyas continued to play at four.
“You won’t like this statement, but you should learn from the Indian team management. Jaiswal sat out after one match. When Virat didn’t play, they brought in Iyer, and when Iyer performed, he retained his place. Pant, who, in my opinion, is one of their main players, is sitting out. You cannot select guys on the basis of BPL (Bangladesh Premier League) performances,” Basit added.
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