Cricket

Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has expressed concern over the delay in announcing the Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) squad for the upcoming tour of Australia. Ali, who played alongside Aaqib Javed, the head of the PCB's new selection panel, urged Javed to announce the team promptly.Ali, known as "Chocolaty" to Javed, emphasized the importance of announcing the squad before the third Test match against England, scheduled to begin on October 24 in Rawalpindi. He expressed concern that the PCB's current establishment, which he believes has favored certain individuals, may not support Javed's decisions."I pray that you continue to receive the support of the chairman, Mohsin Naqvi," Ali said. "But keep your eyes open. The talks that I have heard can hurt."Ali also urged Javed to intervene if Fakhar Zaman, who publicly backed former captain Babar Azam after his omission from the Test squad, faces sanctions from the PCB. Zaman received a show-cause notice from the PCB for his comments, but he defended his actions, stating that he felt compelled to speak out."Do send Fakhar Zaman (to Australia)," Ali said. "If there is an action taken (by PCB) against Fakhar Zaman, you should intervene."Ali's advice comes amid ongoing speculation about the future of Babar Azam, who was dropped from the Test squad despite being Pakistan's captain in all three formats. The decision has sparked controversy, with many fans and experts questioning the rationale behind it.The PCB has yet to announce the squad for the Australia tour, which is scheduled to begin on November 4. The series will feature three ODIs and three T20Is.

The 2023-25 World Test Championship (WTC) cycle is nearing its conclusion, with India and Australia emerging as the frontrunners for a rematch of the previous WTC final, which Australia won. Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali believes that the final will once again feature India and Australia, but he has a suggestion for the International Cricket Council (ICC) regarding future WTC cycles.Ali suggests that the ICC consider hosting India-Pakistan Test matches at neutral venues such as Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Dubai, or Abu Dhabi to include these two teams in the WTC cycle. He emphasizes that India and Pakistan should be part of the competition, as they are the only teams that do not play bilateral series against each other."The Indian government always says no, but they play in ICC events like the World Cup," Ali said. "If PCB gives a suggestion, then they (ICC and BCCI) don't take it seriously, which is wrong."Currently, India leads the WTC table, followed by Australia and Sri Lanka. New Zealand's recent victory over India in the first Test of their series in Bengaluru has kept their hopes of finishing in the top two alive. India will face Australia in a five-Test series after their three-Test series against New Zealand.Ali believes that the WTC final will likely be between India and Australia, given their current form. "Four teams are in the top half (of WTC table) -- India, Australia, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand. But according to me, 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," he said.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has identified a significant weakness in the Indian cricket team following their 8-wicket defeat to New Zealand. Ali highlighted concerns not only with the batting lineup but also with the bowling attack.Ali praised Jasprit Bumrah's bowling, comparing him to legendary Pakistani pacers Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis. However, he emphasized the need for a strong pace bowling partner to complement Bumrah."Bumrah's eight-over spell reminded me of Akram and Younis," said Ali. "But India needs to consider having two pace bowlers alongside him when they tour Australia. Currently, he lacks a reliable pace bowling partner."Ali pointed out the absence of Mohammed Shami, who has been a key member of India's pace attack in recent years. "Shami's fitness ahead of the Australia tour is crucial for India," he added.While Akash Deep has emerged as a potential option, India has also included Harshit Rana, Mayank Yadav, and Prasidh Krishna in their reserves for the New Zealand Test series.Ali also expressed curiosity about how newly appointed head coach Gautam Gambhir will handle such a defeat, especially after India's lowest-ever total at home."Now that India has lost a Test, all eyes will be on KL Rahul," said Ali. "Let's see how Gambhir tackles this. Rahul Dravid handled it well. This defeat serves as an eye-opener for Gambhir ahead of the Australia tour."Despite the setback, India still has a chance to salvage the series against New Zealand with two Tests remaining. However, the defeat has raised questions about the team's batting and bowling capabilities, particularly the lack of a reliable pace bowling partner for Bumrah.

Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has criticized young Indian opener Yashasvi Jaiswal for throwing away his wicket cheaply in the second innings of the first Test against New Zealand at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru. Jaiswal was dismissed for 35 off 52 balls, stumped by Tom Blundell off Ajaz Patel, leaving fans and experts frustrated with his shot selection at a critical moment.Basit voiced his frustration on his YouTube channel, labelling Jaiswal as a "kacha player" (not ripe yet). He acknowledged Jaiswal's talent but stressed the importance of staying at the crease to support the team. "I agree that you have many shots in your arsenal, but it was crucial for you to stay at the wicket because you're a left-hander, my prince. A left-hander disrupts the opposition’s bowling rhythm," Basit remarked. "In the first innings, you got out early due to the toss (India's decision to bat first in overcast conditions), but this time you handed your wicket to Ajaz Patel. For the team’s sake, you needed to stay longer; this mindset is necessary."Jaiswal’s dismissal came at a moment when India needed stability to fight back from a first-innings disaster. The opener stepped out of the crease, aiming to dominate Patel, but the ball dipped and then bounced unexpectedly, beating his bat and allowing Blundell to complete the stumping. While Jaiswal showed glimpses of his potential with six boundaries, his aggressive approach ended prematurely, giving New Zealand their first breakthrough on Friday.India, bowled out for a humiliating 46 in the first innings, trailed New Zealand by 356 runs after the visitors posted 402. Rachin Ravindra's brilliant 134 and Tim Southee’s 65 propelled New Zealand to a commanding lead. However, India bounced back in the second innings, reaching 231-3 at stumps on Day 3, thanks to a gritty 136-run partnership between Virat Kohli and Sarfaraz Khan.Furthermore, Basit also emphasized that India would not be playing for a draw but a win even if they eventually lose the match.

Pakistan's women's cricket team suffered a humiliating defeat on Monday, crashing out of the T20 World Cup semifinals race after being bowled out for a mere 56 against New Zealand. The team's dismal performance, which included a series of dropped catches and poor shot selection, has sparked outrage among former players and cricket experts.After restricting New Zealand to a manageable 110 for 6, Pakistan's batting lineup collapsed like a house of cards. The team lost five wickets for just 28 runs, and despite a brief rally, they were eventually dismissed for 56 all out in 11.4 overs. The defeat not only ended Pakistan's hopes of reaching the semifinals but also raised serious questions about the team's preparation and strategy.Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali expressed his disappointment with the team's performance, stating that they "seemed like they were playing badminton, not cricket." He criticized the team's chairperson, Tania Mallick, a former national badminton champion, for her lack of cricket experience.Ali also highlighted the team's poor fielding, pointing out that they dropped several easy catches. "I haven't seen such a team," he said. "You may lose 10 out of 10 matches, but I haven't seen a team dropping catches like that."Despite the team's struggles, Ali praised captain Fatima Sana for her resilience. Sana, who had lost her father a few days ago, contributed the most runs (21) to Pakistan's total. Ali criticized the team's shot selection and the drastic changes in the batting order, which he believed contributed to their downfall."Who got out on a good ball? Muneeba (Ali) played a cross-batted shot. They were getting run-out, playing bad shots," he said. "Sana Fatima lost her father recently; she played the best knock."Ali also extended his sarcasm to Pakistan's men's team, which had recently lost the first Test against England despite scoring over 500 runs in their first innings. He suggested that the men's team's defeat may have had a negative impact on the women's team."I think the way Pakistan lost the first Test, it shocked the women's team as well and they too couldn't play...We know our team is weak, everybody knows that. But to lose like that...56 all out in 11.4 overs. It hurt me, personally," he said.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his disappointment over the team's performance in the ongoing Multan Test against England. Pakistan's batters failed to capitalize on their strong start, allowing England to take control of the match.On the fourth day, Pakistan faced a daunting task in the second innings, trailing by 267 runs. However, their top six batters failed to deliver, with Babar Azam dismissed for just 5 runs. This continued Azam's poor form in Test cricket, leading Ali to suggest that the 29-year-old may need a break."Babar Azam needs rest," Ali said on his YouTube channel. "He should say that I need to rest. It has been 18 innings since he has performed. If some other player was playing, then he would be out of the squad after three games, like Fawad Alam."Ali also criticized Azam's technique, saying that he needs to reduce his stance. "The whole world is laughing," Ali said. "Is this how to play?"Ali also questioned the captaincy of Shan Masood, who opened the batting in the second innings. "I have been saying that Shan is an opener, he should open," Ali said. "But he played at number three. Now, what will happen? Who will you drop? He should play at his number. He doesn't even know captaincy. What has happened to this cricket team? It is shameful."England's dominance was highlighted by the record-breaking partnership between Harry Brook and Joe Root, who put on 454 runs for the fourth wicket. Pakistan's bowlers were unable to contain the English duo, and their confidence took a hit.England eventually declared on 823 for 7, setting Pakistan a target of 579 runs to win. Pakistan ended the day on 152/6, still trailing by 115 runs.

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has heaped praise on young Indian pace sensation Mayank Yadav, who made his international debut in the first T20I against Bangladesh on Sunday. Ali expressed hope that Yadav will be part of the Indian squad for the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Test series in Australia.Yadav, who impressed during this year's Indian Premier League (IPL) with Lucknow Super Giants, made an immediate impact on his India debut. In four overs, he took one wicket for 21 runs at an economy rate of 5.20. While he did not reach the 150 kph mark, he consistently hit 140 kph, showcasing his raw pace.Ali, speaking on his YouTube channel, said, "It was a dream debut for Mayank Yadav. He started off with a maiden and even clocked 149.9 kmph. He has come from an injury, which is why his speeds have not been 157 or 158. Just imagine if he had been given the new ball instead of Hardik Pandya. He instilled fear. If you guys saw the match, batters did not play him on the front foot. I hope that he remains fit and goes to Australia."In the match, India won the toss and opted to bowl first. Bangladesh was bundled out for 127 runs in 19.5 overs, with Najmul Hossain Shanto (27) and Mehidy Hasan Miraz (35*) being the top scorers. Arshdeep Singh (3/14) was the pick of the bowlers for India, while Varun Chakravarthy (3/31) and Yadav (1/21) also contributed.During the chase, India lost Abhishek Sharma early, but Sanju Samson (29) and Suryakumar Yadav (29) put on a 40-run stand for the second wicket. Hardik Pandya (31*) and debutant Nitish Kumar Reddy (16*) then sealed the win for India with a 52-run partnership for the fourth wicket.Bangladesh failed to rise with the ball in the second inning and could only pick up two wickets. Mustafizur Rahman and Mehidy were the only wicket-takers for the visitors. Arshdeep was named the 'Player of the Match' for his fine spell.

Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali expressed astonishment at the contrasting performances of the Bangladesh cricket team, which recently suffered a humiliating 2-0 Test series defeat against India after registering a historic Test series win in Pakistan.Ali questioned the Bangladesh team's lackluster display in the Test series against India, saying, "Is this the same Bangladesh team that whitewashed Pakistan (2-0)? You saw in the Test matches (against India). They lost the first one and then were defeated in virtually two days, even the rain could not save them."Ali attributed India's dominance to their exceptional depth, highlighting the performance of the young Indian Premier League (IPL) stars led by Suryakumar Yadav. "India have changed cricket (with their dominance). Bangladesh is just an appetizer (for them)," he said.The T20I retirement of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja has created opportunities for new players in the Indian team. Ali noted the absence of several key players from the playing XI in the match at Gwalior, including Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Axar Patel, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, and Ravi Bishnoi."Yeh IPL eleven hai, India ki team nahi hai," said Ali, emphasizing the strength of the Indian team's bench. "And still they hammered them in just 11-something overs, finishing with a six from (Hardik) Pandya."Ali praised the performances of debutants Mayank Yadav and Nitish Kumar Reddy, who made their first international appearances in the match. He particularly lauded Yadav's impressive pace, saying, "There were two debuts, but it was a dream debut for Mayank Yadav. The first over was a maiden, including a 149.8 kmph delivery."Ali expressed hope that Yadav remains fit for India's upcoming tour of Australia, saying, "I pray that this kid remains fit and goes on the Australia tour."After the T20I series against Bangladesh, India will face New Zealand in a three-Test series before traveling to Australia for the Border Gavaskar Trophy, which will be contested over five Test matches.

Pakistan's Shan Masood Urged to Counter England's Tactics with Bold DecisionsFormer Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has advised national team captain Shan Masood to adopt a more aggressive approach in countering England's tactics in the upcoming Test series. Ali's suggestion comes after England announced their playing eleven two days before the start of the first Test in Multan.Ali believes that Masood should have followed England's lead and announced Pakistan's team in advance. "It's still not late," he said. "Do it in the morning after assessing the pitch."Ali drew comparisons with India captain Rohit Sharma, who made bold decisions in the second Test against Bangladesh in Kanpur. Despite rain washing out two days, India counter-attacked in their first innings and declared early to keep the game alive. India eventually won by seven wickets, sweeping the series 2-0."If you want to be brave like Rohit in captaincy, then make decisions," Ali said. "If you take brave calls, then only you will win."Ali emphasized that Masood needs to instill confidence in his players and turn them into match-winners. "You don't have a Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, or 'Boom Boom' Bumrah," he said. "So raise the confidence level of those you have with you. Tell them 'you are my match-winner.'"Pakistan will be looking to bounce back from a disappointing 0-2 whitewash at home against Bangladesh. The first Test against England begins in Multan on October 7.