Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali mocks his country’s economic woes and cricketing struggles ahead of the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash.
February 23, 2025: Basit Ali’s Brutal Take on Pakistan’s Prospects Against India
As cricketing arch-rivals India and Pakistan gear up for their highly anticipated ICC Champions Trophy 2025 showdown, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has delivered a stinging assessment of his home team’s chances. Ali, known for his blunt commentary, took a swipe at Pakistan’s cricketing fortunes and economic crisis, stating that fans won’t even bother breaking their TV sets this time—because inflation is too high!
“Agar one-sided hota hai, toh ab TV bhi nahi tootenge kyunki Pakistan mei mehangai bahut zyada hai. Ab zabaan se hi har cheez hogi,” Ali quipped on his YouTube channel. (If it’s a one-sided match, fans won’t break their TVs this time due to high inflation. They will just talk about it.)
Ali labeled the upcoming clash as a ‘final’ for Pakistan, emphasizing that India is the clear favorite. Pakistan, after suffering a 60-run defeat to New Zealand in their opening match, is in a must-win situation to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
🇵🇰 Pakistan’s Unsettled XI: Who Will Bat at No. 3?
Adding to Pakistan’s woes, Fakhar Zaman’s injury has left the team scrambling for a stable No. 3 batter. Ali questioned the lack of a solid batting order, expressing concern over the team’s predictability.
“Who will bat at No. 3? Nobody knows. They might ask Usman Khan to open with Imam-ul-Haq and move Babar Azam to No. 3. But the top five batters are too similar in style—there’s no flexibility,” he said.
Comparing Pakistan’s batting to a car stuck in third gear, he predicted that their only hope lies in a strong finish in the last five to ten overs.
⚖️ India vs Pakistan – The Record and Predictions
📊 Champions Trophy Head-to-Head:
- Pakistan leads 3-2 in past Champions Trophy meetings.
- India, however, has dominated recent ODIs, winning their last six encounters against Pakistan.
🎯 Basit Ali’s Prediction for IND vs PAK 2025:
70% India, 30% Pakistan
“India have a more experienced side. If Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are in form, it’s India’s game. If they aren’t, then it becomes competitive.”
With a well-balanced squad, India enters the match as the firm favorite. Meanwhile, Pakistan must overcome both their on-field struggles and off-field distractions to pull off an upset.
🌍 Pakistan Hosts ICC Event After Nearly Three Decades
The 2025 Champions Trophy is a historic tournament, marking the first time Pakistan is hosting an ICC event since the 1996 Cricket World Cup. However, due to political tensions, all of India’s matches, including their face-off against Pakistan, are being played in Dubai.
With Pakistan struggling for form and team morale at an all-time low, can Mohammad Rizwan’s side defy the odds and stun India? Or will Rohit Sharma’s Team India march into the semi-finals with another dominant performance?
📢 What’s your prediction for the epic India vs Pakistan clash? Drop your thoughts in the comments!