Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has denied that there is any rift in the national team ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand later this month.
Basit said that, despite Babar Azam replacing Shaheen Afridi as captain, the team will be the same as before since there is lack of talent in Pakistan.
“I don’t think there will be any grouping in this team because there is lack of talent in this country. We are calling players from UAE, like Usman Khan, to come and play for Pakistan. The PSL could not produce any new batter. So, I don’t think there will be any problem,” Basit said on his YouTube channel.
“When Babar was captain five to six months ago, the same team was playing. Maybe Imad and Abrar will come in and Nawaz will get dropped for the series against New Zealand but the rest of the team will be the same,” he added.
New Zealand will touch down in Pakistan on April 14 for the eagerly-anticipated series.
The two teams will play three T20Is at the Pindi Cricket Stadium in Rawalpindi on 18, 20 and 21 April. Following that, both sides will move to Lahore, where they will play the remaining two T20Is of the series on 25 and 27 April, respectively.
All five matches of the T20I series will start at 7:00pm (PST).
Pakistan vs New Zealand T20I series schedule
14 April – New Zealand arrive in Pakistan
16-17 April – Training/practice
18 April – 1st T20I, Rawalpindi
20 April – 2nd T20I, Rawalpindi
21 April – 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi
25 April – 4th T20I, Lahore
27 April – 5th T20I, Lahore