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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has taken a sharp swipe at the Pakistan cricket team and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) ahead of their high-stakes clash against India in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Pakistan is set to face their arch-rivals at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, February 23 in what is a crucial encounter for both sides.
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Basit Ali’s Scathing Remarks
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali did not hold back while criticizing Pakistan’s current cricketing struggles and economic woes.
“Agar one-sided hota hai, toh ab TV bhi nahi tootenge kyunki Pakistan mei mehangai bahut zyada hai. Ab zabaan se hi har cheez hogi.”
(If Pakistan loses one-sided against India, fans will not break their TV sets anymore due to the economic crisis. Now, everything will be expressed through words.)
The former cricketer-turned-analyst admitted that if Pakistan somehow manages to beat India, it would be a major upset given their current form.
“India are favourites. There is no doubt about that. If Pakistan manages to beat India, it will be an upset because our cricket has gone down and is at an all-time low.”
Concerns Over Pakistan’s Batting Line-Up
Basit Ali also pointed out Pakistan’s unstable batting order, questioning their lack of a defined No. 3 batter and the absence of power hitters in the middle order.
“Who will bat at No 3? Nobody knows. They might ask Usman Khan to open with Imam and bring Babar Azam at No 3. Fakhar Zaman is out. Now Pakistan’s batting line-up from number one to five is similar. If their car is running in third gear, it will stay in third gear. It won’t be able to switch into turbo mode in the last five or 10 overs.”
Basit Ali Slams PCB’s Priorities
In a direct attack on the PCB, Basit Ali criticized the board’s focus on infrastructure rather than team development.
“The amount of money they spent on building stadiums, they could have built a good team in half of that amount. But to build a team, you need intelligence. What is your vision? What’s your thinking? How do you view a player’s talent? These are the important things.”
India in Form, Pakistan Under Pressure
India began their Champions Trophy 2025 campaign with a dominant six-wicket win over Bangladesh, showcasing strong performances from Mohammed Shami and Shubman Gill. Meanwhile, Pakistan suffered a crushing 60-run defeat against New Zealand in their first match, putting them in a must-win situation against India.
With mounting pressure on Mohammad Rizwan & Co., Pakistan will need to deliver a remarkable performance to keep their tournament hopes alive. Will they prove Basit Ali wrong, or will India extend their dominance? The answer awaits on Sunday!
