Ganesh Kendale
Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali has shared a piece of advice and caution for his ex-teammate and fast bowler Aaqib Javed, who is the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new selection panel, which dropped former captain Babar Azam from the Test squad.
Addressing Aaqib as ‘Chocolaty’, a nickname that both Basit and Aaqib gave to each other during their playing days, the 53-year-old former batsman urged the chief selector to not wait any longer to announce the squad for the tour of Australia.
Pakistan are scheduled to travel Down Under for a series of three ODIs and three T20Is, beginning November 4.
“I and Aaqib used to call each other ‘chocolaty’. So Chocolaty miyan, team announce kar do yaar, Australia tour ke liye (announce the team for Australia tour). Do it before the (third) Test match (against England), because the establishment that is there in the PCB in the last 5-6 years and who have brought in their favourite people, they don’t’ like you,” said Basit in the latest video on his YouTube channel.
Pakistan will take on England in the third and deciding Test of the series from October 24 in Rawalpindi.
“Jab tak chairman saab ka aashirwad hai aap pe, aap datte rahogey inshallah (as long as the chairman, Mohsin Naqvi, has his hand on you, you will keep going strong). I pray for that,” said Basit.
“The kind of work you are doing, may God give you success. But keep your eyes open. The talks that I have heard can hurt,” he said.
Before ending the video, Basit urged Aaqib to intervene if Fakhar Zaman is sanctioned by the PCB for backing his former captain Babar publicly.
Zaman had come out in support of Babar after he was dropped from the Test squad, following which the PCB issued the opening batsman a show-cause notice. Replying to that, Zaman said he “felt compelled” to speak on the issue, adding that “PCB is our institution and we will continue to respect it”.
Basit also advised Aaqib to include Zaman in the squad for the Australia tour.
“Do send Fakhar Zaman (to Australia). If there is an action taken (by PCB) against Fakhar Zaman, you should intervene,” Basit said in his message to Aaqib.
