Watch: Basit Ali tears into Shadab Khan as Saqlain Mushtaq listens on Live TV
Pakistan’s historic 1,000th One-Day International (ODI) was meant to be a moment of pure celebration. Playing against Australia in Rawalpindi, the Men in Green secured a comfortable five-wicket victory to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. However, the post-match analysis took an incredibly tense turn on live television. In a dramatic broadcasting moment, former Pakistan selector Basit Ali launched a fierce critique of all-rounder Shadab Khan‘s performance and his sudden re-selection into the national side.
Watch: Basit Ali tears into Shadab Khan as Saqlain Mushtaq listens on Live TV
The post-match discussion on ARY News quickly went viral due to the raw and unfiltered nature of the debate. What made the segment particularly intense was the presence of legendary Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who sat on the very same panel. Saqlain, who is also Shadab Khan’s father-in-law, had to sit and listen in silence as Basit Ali pulled no punches regarding the leg-spinner’s current form and place in the team.
Basit Ali questioned the selection criteria that allowed Shadab to return to the ODI side after a lengthy absence. The game in Rawalpindi marked Shadab’s first ODI appearance since the 2023 ODI World Cup in November of that year. According to Ali, Shadab’s lack of 50-over cricket in recent years should have disqualified him from an immediate recall.
“You tell me, Shadab Khan has not played ODI cricket for three years now, so how did he come back into the team? He has not played ODI cricket; he has only played the PSL. After bowling four overs a day for three years, how can you bring him back to the ODI team?” Basit Ali questioned during the broadcast.
Ali further alleged that the selection displayed “blatant favouritism,” noting that while he was actually the first person to select Shadab Khan during his Under-19 days, performances must dictate national selection. “But when there is no performance, and you parachute the players into the team, the youngsters will not be happy. The youngsters will remain silent because of the PCB and the selectors, but these things damage Pakistan cricket in the end,” he added.
Basit Ali criticizing Shadab Khan in front of Saqlain Mushtaq. pic.twitter.com/QUKK0RStuS
A Historic Win Overshadowed by Selection Debates
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a monumental day for Pakistan cricket. Becoming only the third nation after India and Australia to play 1,000 ODIs, Pakistan elected to bowl first on a surface that offered plenty of assistance to the spinners. While Australia’s Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw managed to score half-centuries, the rest of the visitors’ batting lineup collapsed under the relentless pressure applied by the Pakistani bowlers.
The star of the show was debutant left-arm spinner Arafat Minhas. Having previously impressed at the Under-19 level, Minhas seized his opportunity on the big stage. He finished with astonishing figures of 5/32 in his 10 overs, etching his name in history as the first Pakistan bowler to take a five-wicket haul on an ODI debut. Abrar Ahmed also chipped in with two wickets, while Salman Agha, Shaheen Afridi, and Haris Rauf picked up one wicket each.
In response, Pakistan chased down the target of 201 with ease. Babar Azam anchored the innings with a solid 69, while Ghazi Ghori contributed a vital 65. Fittingly, it was the debutant hero Arafat Minhas who hit the winning runs, launching a six off Marnus Labuschagne to seal the five-wicket victory.
Analyzing Shadab Khan’s Recent ODI Struggles
Despite the team’s triumph, Shadab Khan’s individual performance raised major red flags. On a pitch where other spinners thrived, Shadab struggled to find his rhythm. Out of the six bowlers deployed by Pakistan, Shadab was the only one who failed to take a wicket. While Australia scored at a relatively modest rate of 4.5 runs per over, Shadab conceded 54 runs in his 8 overs, translating to an economy rate of 6.75. In stark contrast, no other Pakistan bowler conceded more than 4.4 runs per over during the match.
This poor outing extended a worrying trend for the leg-spinner. Shadab has now gone wicketless in each of his last five ODI appearances, a stretch that includes one match where he was not even asked to bowl. Since making his ODI debut back in 2017, consistency has often eluded the all-rounder, ultimately leading to his initial omission from the side in late 2023.
Over his ODI career, Shadab has played 71 matches, claiming 85 wickets at an average of 35.45 and an economy rate of 5.26. With the bat, he has accumulated 855 runs in 44 innings at an average of 25.9 and a strike rate of 86. While these career numbers show his capability as an all-rounder, his recent dip in bowling form remains a pressing concern for the team’s management and selectors moving forward in the series.
