With less than 10 days to go till the start of the Champions Trophy 2025, hosts Pakistan have a few selection headaches to solve. One, in particular, is the slot of an opener, where Pakistan are trying out star batter Babar Azam in recent games. With talented 22-year-old opener Saim Ayub ruled out due to injury, Pakistan have seemingly promoted Babar up the order. The move has come under big criticism, with former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali slamming the decision.

“Is this some kind of book cricket? What are you doing?” Basit fumed, speaking on his YouTube channel.

“You are playing without an opener and you have made Babar Azam an opener. Go for specialists,” Basit stated.

Babar managed only 10 runs as Pakistan slumped to a crushing 78-run loss against New Zealand in their first game of the tri-series.

On that note, Basit suggested that Pakistan need to prioritise opening with a specialist opener, rather than shoehorning Babar at the top of the order.

He also suggested that Pakistan should take a leaf out of India’s book, citing how India have been able to make tough calls based on performance.

“You won’t like this statement, but you should learn from the Indian team management. (Yashasvi) Jaiswal sat out after one match. When Virat (Kohli) didn’t play, they brought in (Shreyas) Iyer, and when Iyer performed, he retained his place,” Basit stated.

“(Rishabh) 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.

Shreyas Iyer had stated that he was not scheduled to play the first game of India’s ODI series against England, but got in after Kohli suffered a knee issue. A swashbuckling half-century in that game saw Iyer retain his place in the side.

With South Africa losing against New Zealand as well in the tri-series, the winner of the game between them and Pakistan will reach the final of the mini tournament.

Basit Ali put out a request to Pakistan’s white-ball coach Aaqib Javed and captain Mohammad Rizwan to make some changes to their preliminary 15-man squad for the Champions Trophy.

“It is my request, please do something. Please take an opener and spinner with you in the squad,” Basit said.

Pakistan begin their Champions Trophy campaign against New Zealand on February 19. The final date for submission of the squad is February 12.

India head coach Gautam Gambhir ahead of 3rd T20I match vs England.© BCCI

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has recalled ex-India captain Mohammad Azharuddin‘s words praising Tilak Varma, following the youngster’s heroics in the second T20I against England on Saturday. Tilak is thriving in his new role as India’s designated no. 3 in T20I. On Saturday, he hit a brilliant 55-ball 72 not out, laced with four boundaries and five sixes, to help India chase down 166 with two wickets and four balls to spare. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit recalled how Azharuddin spoke highly about Tilak, who had not made his India debut back then.

“When I interviewed Mohammad Azharuddin, he took the name of Tilak Varma when he was nothing, playing only in IPL. He said, ‘There is Tilak Varma, watch him [play]’ and now it’s come true,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.

Sharing his views on Tilak’s performances at no. 3, Basit credit India head coach Gautam Gambhir for using the left-right combination wisely.

“Duniya ek numbari to Tilak Varma teen nambari (If the World No.1, then Tilak Varma is No. 3.) You’ll ask what did I say? It’s because he is performing back-to-back since he’s come at No. 3. You saw [in the match], that Gautam used the left-right combination [well]. (Varma) Played well, what a match,” he added.

Since being promoted to no. 3 during the tour of South Africa last year, Tilak smashed two consecutive centuries against the Proteas.

After his knock against England in Chennai, Tilak admitted that India captain Suryakumar Yadav giving him the number three position has been the turning point of his batting career in the shortest format.

His stats as a number three batter now read as 419 runs in 11 innings with an average of 69.83 and strike-rate of 171.02.

“When Surya bhai gave me that No.3 position in South Africa, it was a turning point for me. So, I would like to congratulate and thank Surya bhai for that. As for this series, there is a left-right combination going on, so wherever I am needed, I am there. The flexibility is good, and I am adapting well to it. I am always ready,” said Tilak.

File image of Jasprit Bumrah.© AFP

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has ripped into India captain Rohit Sharma for their defeat to Australia in the fourth Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024/25 in Melbourne. Rohit Sharma was slammed by Ali for not only ruining the confidence of KL Rahul by demoting him and promoting himself, but also criticised for his mentality. Basit Ali also reserved criticism for Gautam Gambhir, criticising some of the decisions taken during the game, and also suggested a captaincy change for Team India.

“One decision: ‘I will open’, that affected India. Rohit Sharma not only came back to open despite being out of form, he also put the in-form KL Rahul under pressure. You (Rohit) completely shattered the confidence of the team,” said Ali in a scathing attack on his YouTube channel.

“Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli got out playing extremely poor shots,” Ali added. Rohit 9 and Kohli just 5 during the run chase.

India slumped to defeat on Day 5 of the fourth Test. Needing 340 to win on the final day, Rohit Sharma started off on an extremely defensive note, setting the tone for a draw.

“On top of everything, right from the start, you (Rohit) came in defensive, thinking ‘Draw, Draw, Draw’. Did you play like you deserve a draw? No,” said Basit Ali.

Ali also did not spare Gautam Gambhir and the team management. In particular, he questioned the decision to not keep a left-hand-right-hand combination in the middle after Rishabh Pant got out.

“I must congratulate Gautam Gambhir too. You (Gambhir) used left-hand-right-hand combinations to your heart’s content during the ODI series (against Sri Lanka), the series against New Zealand. Here is when you should’ve sent Nitish Reddy at No. 6. At least we would’ve known you’ve done something to save the game,” said Basit.

Finally, Ali also suggested a change of captain.

“I think the time has come for Rohit to step down; (Jasprit) Bumrah should be made captain for the last Test. You (Rohit) have served India a lot, but your body is not supporting you now,” Ali concluded.

File photo of Virat Kohli© IANS

Virat Kohli (L) and Rohit Sharma© AFP

It has been a disappointing few months for Shubman Gill. The Indian cricket team batter has been struggling for runs in the ongoing Test series against Australia. Gill’s dismissals received a lot of criticism from the former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali who believes that the youngster is lacking “hunger for runs”. Gill failed to score big in the third Test match in Brisbane as well after he was dismissed for 1. Basit said that youngsters like Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal should not look at the struggles of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. He added that Gill needs to forget the past and concentrate more on his game.

“Jaiswal aur Gill ko yeh nahi dekhna chahiye ke Kohli bhi out ho gaya (they shouldn’t take solace from the fact that Kohli too was dismissed without scoring much). He has performed (at the highest level); Rohit Sharma has performed,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.

“You guys should be hungry about runs, which you are not unfortunate.”

“Gill ko toh bilkul hi nahi hai bhookh (Gill is not hungry at all for runs). He loves shot-making, but Test cricket is a test of everything. You need to forget the past (good or bad) performances and think about what’s ahead, which unfortunately Gill and others don’t think,” he added.

India avoided the follow-on, scoring 252 for nine when bad light forced early stumps on day 4 of the third Test against Australia on Tuesday.

Ravindra Jadeja (77) and KL Rahul (84) led India’s fightback, but once they were dismissed, Jasprit Bumrah (10) and Akash Deep (27) helped push the total forward, with Akash playing a heroic unbeaten knock of 39 off 54 balls.

India, however, still trail by 193 runs.

For Australia, skipper Pat Cummins was the most successful bowler, taking four wickets for 80 runs, while Mitchell Starc claimed three for 83. Nathan Lyon (1/54) also picked up a wicket on a day when Josh Hazlewood was ruled out of the match due to injury.

Jadeja kept India’s hopes alive with a sturdy innings, sharing a 53-run stand with Nitish Kumar Reddy (16), who was dismissed by Cummins in the post-lunch session, which was curtailed by a rain interruption lasting just over an hour.

Earlier, opener KL Rahul played a crucial role in India’s fightback, contributing a solid 84 as he and Jadeja added 67 runs.

Resuming the day at 51 for 4, India lost their captain Rohit Sharma (10) early, but Rahul stood firm at the other end, bringing up his 17th Test half-century off 85 balls.

The five-match series is currently tied at 1-1.

(With PTI inputs)

Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali has criticised the Indian team management amid the ongoing third Test against Australia. Basit suggested that head coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Rohit Sharma are not on the same page. Rohit’s leadership has come under severe criticism after India’s heavy defeat in the Adelaide pink-ball Test last week, as well as the disappointing show so far in the third Test in Brisbane. While analysing India’s performance in Adelaide and Brisbane Tests, Basit claimed that there is a difference of opinion between the captain and the coach.

“Rohit Sharma and Gautam Gambhir are not on the same page, be it the one-day tournament in Sri Lanka; Bangladesh, which was a weak series; or the New Zealand series after that. In the second and third (Tests), they (Rohit and Gambhir) are not on the same page, like Rahul Dravid was. He and Rohit were not on the same page,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.

Basit also criticised veteran spinner Ravindra Jadeja‘s inclusion in the team for the ongoing Test, questioning the logic behind the same.

“I can explain it very easily. In all three Tests matches, a different spinner played. In two Test matches, they batted after winning the toss, but here they chose to bowl. There are three left-handers in the Australian batting….So why not (Washington) Sundar and why not (Ravichandran) Ashwin? Anybody who understands cricket will definitely talk about it,” he added.

Basit also highlighted India’s over-reliance on Bumrah and the lack of left-arm pace bowlers options as the concerning factors behind the team’s struggles to counter Travis Head‘s onslaught.

“Was the decision to bowl first right? I think it was not. The Indian team is only dependent on Bumrah. The rest of the bowlers are not performing like they should. If I say it’s Bumrah vs Australia, that will be right. Similarly, it’s Travis Head vs India…Neither Rohit, nor (bowling coach) Morne Morkel and (chief coach) Gautam Gambhir are able to solve this problem.

“India don’t have a left-arm fast bowler in their squad. That’s a weak link. We have seen Mir Hamza or Shaheen Shah Afridi accounting for Head because that’s a different angle. That’s why, if you see, Bumrah bowls round the wicket to Head,” Basit further pointed out.

In reply to Australia’s first innings total of 445, India were tottering at 51/4 at stumps on a rain curtailed Day 3.

Basit Ali has taken a dig at Jason Gillespie after he resigned as head coach of Pakistan.© Pakistan Cricket