Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has questioned Babar Azam’s “patriotism” following his 90-ball 64 knock against New Zealand in Karachi. Defending champions lost by 60 runs to New Zealand in the tournament opener. Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India in a must-win game in Dubai on Sunday.
“81 ball pe 50 kara hai Babar ne… total 90 balls mey 64 (Babar Azam has completed his half-century in 81 balls and has managed 64 balls in 90 balls),” Basit Ali said on Ary News’ cricket show “Har Lamha Purjosh.”
“Kya wo sirf 50 ke liye khel rahe they (Was he only playing for his milestone).
“Kya unhe apne mulk ke liye nahi khelna tha (Shouldn’t he played for his country).
“Mulk phle ya Babar Azam phle. Koi puchega unse (Country is first or Babar Azam is first, will someone ask him?).
Pakistan’s Babar Azam plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy cricket match between Pakistan and New Zealand, in Karachi, Pakistan. (AP)
“5 chauke maare apne 50 mey (you have hit only five boundaries in his knock. Usse badhiya toh Salman Ali Agha kehla hai (Salaman Ali Aghha has showed more intent than Babar Azam).
“Social media mey hume log gaddar bolte hai kyunki hum Babar Azam ko criticise karte hai (On social media fans call me traitor for criticising Babar Azam).”
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Basit Ali also slammed Pakistan’s vice-captain Salman Ali Agha, who has lamented Pakistan for not able to make the most of the powerplay. “We were hampered by Fakhar’s absence at the start of the innings. In the last five or six years, no one utilises the powerplay better than him,” Salman told reporters. “We didn’t even have 30 runs (they were 22 for 2) in the powerplay. We knew we’d have to attack from ball one and take risks. So I took those risks, but I still believe I should have taken the innings deeper.
“It was night and day between this powerplay and that one [against South Africa in the triangular series]. We scored 91 in that powerplay. When you’re chasing 320, the powerplay is instrumental to it. But Fakhar Zaman, who uses that powerplay very well, couldn’t bat then because of his injury.”
Basit Ali said: “Why is he not taking Babar Azam’s name. Fakhar was out from the team for past one year.”
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