‘Shreyas, Yashasvi, Siraj, Shami would have been in Pakistan’s A category’ – Ex-Pakistan batter empathises with India’s Asia Cup 2025 discards

Basit Ali, a former Pakistan batter, believes that the absence of Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj, and Mohammed Shami from India’s Asia Cup 2025

roster demonstrates the country’s talent. Ali claimed that if these four players had played for Pakistan, they would have been in the ‘A’ category.

Shreyas and Yashasvi were allegedly in the running for India’s Asia Cup selection. However, the Ajit Agarkar-led selection panel opted to recall Shubman Gill and replace him in the middle order with Shivam Dube, a seam-bowling all-rounder. Jaiswal had to settle for a berth among the reserves when these two players were selected. In contrast, Iyer was utterly overlooked.

In the pace-bowling department, India picked the trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, and Harshit Rana. The experienced duo of Siraj and Shami were ignored.

“Shreyas Iyer, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami agar Pakistan mein hote na ye log A category mey hote (These would have been in Pakistan’s A category),” said Basit while speaking on YouTube show Game Time.

Speaking particularly on Iyer, who led Punjab Kings (PBKS) to the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 final earlier this year, Basit inculpated the BCCI of mistreating the player.