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A former Pakistan cricketer claims it looked like Rizwan was unhappy with a player’s selection after seeing the skipper’s reaction in the ODI Tri-Series Final, sparking major concerns ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025.
Pakistan were beaten by New Zealand in the ODI Tri-Series final. (Image: AFP)
With the Champions Trophy 2025 upon us, the former Pakistan cricketer, Basit Ali has hinted that the current skipper, Mohammed Rizwan may not have been pleased with the selection of the all-rounder Faheem Ashraf during the ODI Tri-Series final clash against New Zealand.
Ali, on his YouTube channel, suggested this possibility when he claimed that a captain would not have changed the bowler when he was giving away minimal runs in his spell.
“It was clearly visible that Rizwan was not happy with Faheem Ashraf’s selection. Otherwise, this does not happen where after bowling two overs, giving away just nine runs, you change the bowler,” Ali claimed.
Having to defend 243, Pakistan opted to begin with their star fast-bowlers, Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah with the new ball. Ashraf came in as the first bowling change where he bowled two overs giving away just nine runs. But what’s bizarre is that the skipper did not opt to go with the pacer until the final over when the game was well out of their hands.
Prior to the game against New Zealand, his last game for the national side came during the Perth Test against Australia in December 2023. His last ODI appearance came against India in Colombo during the Asia Cup 2024 as well In September, of the same year.
Nonetheless, Ashraf made his way to being selected to Pakistan’s Champions Trophy squad, which certainly raised eyebrows. The former skipper and legendary pacer, Wasim Akram was critical of the selectors for picking him. He even took a sly dig at the all-rounder’s statistics as well while making a point that the side needed more spinners.
“Faheem Ashraf has been selected in this squad but in the last few months, his batting average is 8 while his bowling average is 100. Apart from this, Khushdil Shah’s performance has also not been good and we have selected only one spinner but India has selected 4 spinners,” he said as quoted by Hindustan Times on the sidelines of the ILT20.
Pakistan ended up losing the game by five wickets with William O’Rourke being adjudged the Player of the Match for a four-wicket haul. Agha Salman took the Player of the Series Award for scoring 219 runs at an average of 73.