Published: Mar 05, 2025, 08:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Mar 05, 2025, 08:31 PM (IST)
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali lashed out Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for selection of squad for the upcoming white-ball series against New Zealand, set to begin March 16. Pakistan team is scheduled to play a five-match T20I series, followed by a three-match ODI series.
PCB announced Salman Ali Agha as the new T20I captain of Pakistan team, with allrounder Shahdab Khan as his deputy. Veterans Mohammed Rizwan and Babar Azam have been dropped from T20Is. However, both the players will appear in ODI format, where Rizwan will continue to lead the team. The selectors also decided to keep the players that were seen struggling in the Champions Trophy 2025.
Some notable exclusions from the squad are Saud Shakeel and fast bowled Mohammad Hasnain. Notably, Hasnain did not feature in a single Champions Trophy match, but was still left out.
“How many runs did Saud make against India? 64? Yet, he is out of the team,” Basit Ali said while questioning the logic behind his omission on his YouTube channel.
“Why is Mohammad Hasnain, who is your next big fast bowler, not in the squad? He has proven his ability, yet he is ignored in both formats. What kind of injustice is this to a young, talented player?” he said as he questioned Hasnain’s exclusion.
Basit further alleged that selection was influenced by reputation rather than merit. “Certain players have built good images for themselves, and that’s why they are in the squad. These entries are all through the back door,” he claimed
.The upcoming New Zealand white-ball series is going to be Pakistan’s first assignment after the Champions Trophy 2025. Even though they were the defending champions and the hosts of the tournament, Pakistan were the first team to get eliminated form the event.
