Former Pakistan cricketer and analyst Basit Ali has made a strong statement regarding Shadab Khan’s inclusion in the national squad, saying he would never pick him based solely on his performance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL). The remarks were made during his appearance on ARY News’ popular show Har Lamha Purjosh, hosted by Wasim Badami.
Basit Ali openly expressed his disagreement with those supporting Shadab Khan’s selection after PSL 10, stating:
“As a selector, I would never include Shadab Khan in the team because he won’t make it just on PSL performance. When we have players like Abrar, Sufiyan, and Khushdil Shah, they deserve a place. And if senior players keep getting selected for the national team based on PSL performances, then where will the young players go?”
Kamran Akmal Backs Shadab Khan’s Inclusion
Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal responded to Basit Ali’s remarks by defending Shadab Khan. Akmal emphasized that PSL performances should be considered by the selectors and that Shadab has shown enough skill and leadership to justify his spot.
“Looking at his performance in the PSL, Shadab Khan deserves a place in the national team. Now it depends on what performances the selectors consider,” said Akmal.
Discussion on PSL 10 Team Rankings
In the same episode, both analysts also discussed team performances in the ongoing PSL 10 season. Basit Ali named Islamabad United as the strongest team, followed by Lahore Qalandars.
“In my opinion, the strongest team in PSL 10 right now is Islamabad United. And the second-best team is not Quetta, but Lahore Qalandars,” he stated.
Kamran Akmal agreed and highlighted the improvement in Islamabad United’s squad, particularly after the inclusion of international players.
“Especially with the inclusion of Alex Hales, the team has benefited a lot,” Akmal added.
Shadab Khan’s Role in PSL 10 and National Team
Shadab Khan is currently leading Islamabad United in PSL 10 and is also part of the squad announced for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. His recent performances have been under scrutiny, but his leadership and all-round capabilities continue to keep him in the spotlight.
Basit Ali’s comments have sparked a fresh debate among cricket fans and experts over the criteria for national team selection. Whether PSL performances should heavily influence selection remains a hot topic, especially with the T20 World Cup on the horizon.
. The remarks were made during his appearance on ARY News' popular show Har Lamha Purjosh, hosted by Wasim Badami.){kind=link}