Begin on February 19, the ICC Champions Trophy will be held in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates. Mohammad Rizwan, the team’s standout wicket-keeper batsman, will be leading Pakistan in their maiden ICC event as captain as they attempt to defend their championship at home.
Pakistan will continue to enjoy an advantage when playing at home, but the Pakistan Cricket Board has come under heavy fire for the way they have been managing the national squad in recent months. The criticism has persisted, with former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali raising doubts about the necessity of a quality mentor and recommending Sarfaraz Ahmed, the former captain of Pakistan who also guided the side to their first-ever Champions Trophy victory in 2017.
The board is asleep, Basit Ali said in his harsh comments, adding that Afghanistan had appointed former T20 World Champion Younus Khan as a mentor.
“The great Younis Khan was chosen by Afghanistan to serve as a mentor, and it was a wise decision. The board must be asleep, just like the people in Pakistan. Sarfaraz Ahmed, who won you the Champions Trophy the last time, is the tutor they need against India,” Basit stated on his YouTube channel.
“The ideas made by Sarfaraz will be effective in this match. He’s been the one to lift the prize in their presence. I refuse to adopt someone else’s name. The team won because of him,” Basit continued.
India has not been fortunate in Dubai: Basit Ali
After expressing disapproval of the board’s choice, Basit added that India, bitter rivals, is at a disadvantage in the tournament because all of their games will take place in Dubai. Dubai has not been a particularly fortunate location for the Indian squad, according to Basit.
“I previously informed you that the final would take place in Lahore. That’s what I’m still saying. India would advance to the final, in my opinion, if their matches were held in Sri Lanka rather than Dubai. India has not been fortunate in Dubai. There has always been an issue for them,” Basit Ali stated.