Basit Ali Criticizes Pakistan’s Team Selection for Test Against England in Multan
In New Delhi, former cricketer Basit Ali expressed concerns over Pakistan’s team selection for the opening Test against England in Multan. The match, starting on Monday, follows the tradition of announcing the playing XI a day or two before the Test. Pakistan’s lineup shows increased batting depth, a change from their previous series against Bangladesh.
Basit Ali highlighted the inclusion of Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal at the tail end, suggesting it reflects uncertainty in the main batting lineup. He commented, “Pakistan have made a bit of a mistake by adding depth to their batting lineup. They are depending on seven and eight numbers where Salman Ali Agha and Aamer Jamal will play. It means that the water is above the head,” on his YouTube channel.
England’s team includes spinners Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, with Joe Root as an optional spinner. Basit expects England to choose batting if they win the toss. He believes Pakistan should aim to bowl out England in 70 overs, as their pace trio might struggle with longer spells.
Pakistan’s Playing XI: Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique, Shan Masood (c), Babar Azam, Saud Shakeel, Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Aamir Jamal, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Abrar Ahmed.
England’s Playing XI: Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Brydon Carse, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
Doubts Revealed
Basit Ali -: Basit Ali is a former Pakistani cricketer who played for the national team. He is known for his expertise in cricket and often shares his opinions on team selections and strategies.
Test -: In cricket, a Test match is a long format game that lasts up to five days. It is considered the highest standard of cricket, where teams play two innings each.
Multan -: Multan is a city in Pakistan where the cricket match is taking place. It is known for its rich history and cultural heritage.
Salman Ali Agha -: Salman Ali Agha is a Pakistani cricketer who plays as a batsman. He is part of the team for the Test match against England.
Aamer Jamal -: Aamer Jamal is another Pakistani cricketer included in the team for the Test match. He is known for his all-round abilities, contributing both in batting and bowling.
Jack Leach -: Jack Leach is an English cricketer who plays as a spin bowler. He is part of England’s team for the Test match against Pakistan.
Shoaib Bashir -: Shoaib Bashir is a cricketer included in England’s team for the Test match. He is known for his skills as a spin bowler.
Joe Root -: Joe Root is a famous English cricketer and former captain of the England team. He is known for his excellent batting and can also bowl occasionally.
Playing XI -: Playing XI refers to the eleven players selected to play in a cricket match for each team. It is announced before the match begins.