Basit Ali voices concerns that Babar Azam is not a no. 4 batter
Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali spoke openly about the decision to omit spinner Sufiyan Muqeem from the Pakistan team.
Speaking on Har Lamha Purjosh, Basit Ali stated that no issues were raised when Shadab Khan scored 30 in 12 balls, nor was there any debate at the time about how he managed to make the team. “Now that the team is struggling, everyone is talking. Why weren’t these concerns raised earlier?” he remarked.
He stated that Pakistan had a talented option in Sufiyan Muqeem, but chose to sideline him without justification.
Basit Ali also reiterated his position that Babar Azam is not a number four batsman and that forcing him to bat in that role is unfair. He stated that this opinion had been expressed on the ARY platform even before the team was selected.
Commenting on Pakistan’s match against Namibia, Basit Ali said Babar Azam’s batting ability was exposed when the coach “refused to send him into bat after 11 overs.” He said Babar Azam could open in the future, and Saim Ayub bats on the latter number.
Referring to outside inclusions, he criticised what he termed “parachute selections”, saying even Mike Hesson had “come in from nowhere”. He questioned the value of raising objections after selection decisions have already been made, especially if Pakistan progresses to the next round and struggles to fit players into the line-up.
Basit Ali concluded by admitting that Shaheen Afridi has genuinely not been performing, adding that this criticism is valid and based on form rather than hindsight.
