'I should not need to come to ground and scold you' - Basit Ali alerts Mohammad Rizwan ahead of CT 2025

Former cricketer Basit Ali has warned Pakistan's white-ball captain Mohammad Rizwan, urging him to prioritise merit-based selection ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy. The ex-batter stressed that Pakistan’s squad must consist of deserving players to avoid poor performances in the marquee tournament.

With the Champions Trophy just around the corner, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has yet to announce its squad. The ICC event, scheduled to kick off on February 19, will be hosted in Pakistan, except for matches involving India, which will be played in Dubai.

"I have a special message for Rizwan. Pathan Miyaan, please improve. It should not happen that I have to come to the ground to scold you in front of everyone. Don't do such things. This is Pakistan's team. Please pick those who deserve to be there. It should not be that way that someone is good, or someone is performing well in some league," Ali said on his YouTube channel.

The former expressed his frustration regarding delayed squad announcements and concerns over player selections. While the provisional squad reportedly includes stars like Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, Shadab Khan, and injured Saim Ayub. Basit questioned the reason behind selecting an injured player, emphasizing the importance of fielding fully fit individuals in such a high-stakes tournament.

"Pakistan kya darr gaya jo abhi tak team announce nahi ki? Nahi dara nahi hai. Samajh nahi aa rahi hai -- karein to kya karein? (Is Pakistan scared to announce their squad? No, it isn't, just unsure what to do and what not). The biggest issue is Saim Ayub, whether he can return fit or not. It's still not clear," he said.

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This team can only reach the semi-finals Bumrah doesn't play against Pakistan: Baisit Ali

In the same video, Basit laimed to have insider information about the selectors’ probable squad, which he believes is not strong enough to reach the semi-finals. The former cricketer jokingly stated that Pakistan’s chances would depend on prayers or Jasprit Bumrah’s absence in the India-Pakistan match.

"This team can only reach the semi-finals based on prayers, or if Bumrah doesn't play against Pakistan, then there is some chance, otherwise, it is difficult," he added.