Basit Ali's take on Pakistan cricket team. Pic Credits: X

ICC Champions Trophy 2025 : Basit Ali Slams Pakistan For Not Naming Squad For Much Anticipated Marquee Tournament

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Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali attributes Pakistan’s delay in announcing their ICC Champions Trophy squad to uncertainties over batter Saim Ayub’s ankle injury. Basit Ali  believes that his  team relies heavily on their top four batters, including Ayub, due to a weak middle-order, creating a significant dilemma for the selectors

Pakistan’s squad for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 is yet to be revealed. After India announced the India squad for the Champions Trophy on January 18, Pakistan remains the only team not to announce the squad yet. There have been a lot of speculations about the delay. While there has been no official word from the PCB, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed frustration with the board.

Pakistan Cricket Board yet to announce their squad for the upcoming ICC Champions Trophy 2025

ICC Champions Trophy hosts Pakistan are yet to announce their squad for the upcoming tournament, which had January 12 as the deadline for the eight teams to name their respective squads.

Pakistan, the official host of the Champions Trophy 2025, remains the only team to have not announced its squad. PCB’s delay has raised many eyebrows, with fans and pundits speculating the reason even as India, Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan have all revealed their provisional squads for the Champions Trophy.

While the reason behind the delay has left fans and experts guessing, former Pakistan batter Basit Ali said doubts over the availability of batter Saim Ayub has most likely held up the announcement. Opening batter Ayub twisted his ankle during the series against South Africa and has since been out of action, with initial reports suggesting he might stay in rehab mode for six weeks and even require surgery.

However, media outlets in Pakistan have reported that the ankle won’t require any surgical intervention. But still there is no certainty over his availability for the Champions Trophy that will run from February 19 to March 9.

While there has been no official word from the PCB, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali expressed frustration with the board.

Basit Ali slams Pakistan for delaying 2025 ICC Champions Trophy squad announcement

Former Pakistan captain Basit Ali seems unimpressed by Pakistani selectors ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. He stated that the team management is still clueless about their combination, hence the delay in squad announcement.

The multi-nation International Cricket Council (ICC) event is set to be hosted on Pakistani soil. The Men in Green are the only participating team who haven’t announced their roster for the event.

Basit Ali opined that Pakistan have a lot of issues to address, with the lack of depth in their batting order being the biggest cause of worry. In a video shared on his YouTube channel, the cricketer-turned-expert said :

“They don’t know what to do. The biggest issue is Saim Ayub. We still don’t have any updates about his fitness. I will only speak about what I am seeing right now. However, I hope that I am wrong. Pakistan’s middle order is an issue because they will have to face bowlers who bowl over 140 kph,”

“Only against India, it will be a spin attack, rest I don’t see any role for spinners. Pakistan’s No. 5, 6 and 7 are looking dodgy to me at the moment. That’s why I believe Saud Shakeel should be included,”

The 2025 Champions Trophy is set to kick off on February 19. Pakistan will take on New Zealand at the National Stadium in Karachi in the opening encounter.

Basit Ali feels Khushdil Shah should not be picked for 2025 Champions Trophy

Pakistan’s dynamic batter Khushdil Shah has been in terrific form in the ongoing Bangladesh Premier League (BPL). The 29-year-old has scored 274 runs across six innings at a strike rate of 197.12.

However, Basit Ali emphasized that Khushdil is more suited to T20 cricket and won’t be the right fit in Pakistan’s batting lineup for the 2025 Champions Trophy. He said in the aforementioned video :

“A few people want Khushdil Shah to be picked. You want to put a T20 player in the Champions Trophy. Forgive me, friend, he is not my enemy, but talk about him when it’s the T20 format.”

Basit also urged the selectors to include leg spinner Shadab Khan in the squad for the marquee tournament. The bowling all-rounder has been absent from Pakistan’s ODI team since the 2023 World Cup.

Suggesting that Pakistan need to recall Shadab for the crucial competition, Basit Ali said :

“Yes, I strongly speak against Shadab Khan, but Pakistan require him at this time. His batting will also be an advantage. A spin-bowling all-rounder is needed.”

Pakistan are the defending champions of the Champions Trophy. The tournament makes a return for the first time since 2017. Pakistan clinched a 180-run win over arch-rivals India in the final of the previous edition. Pakistan are clubbed with India, Bangladesh and New Zealand in Group A of the eight-team competition, with the high-pressure match against India scheduled for February 23.

India will play all their matches in Dubai as an agreement between the PCB, International Cricket Council and the Board of Control for Cricket in India, after the Indian team’s refusal to travel to Pakistan for the tournament.

Also Read: IND vs ENG: “Side Arm Specialists In India Need To Work Hard To Prepare Batters For Tough Times”- Abhishek Jain Gives His Invaluable Insights


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