Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali had advised captain Babar Azam to open the innings for the Men in Green in the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024.
The side is currently in England for the four-match series with the hosts leading 1-0 after two games. The 53-year-old, while talking on his YouTube channel explained why Babar must open.
"Pakistan will benefit if Babar will open. I don't know who has given him advise to bat at No.3," he said.
"He should be the one batting through and not worry about the strike rate. Pakistan's middle-order now have hard hitters but the base at the top must be great," he added.
On the other hand, he also predicted his top four teams which will feature in the semi-finals of the upcoming T20 World Cup in the USA and the West Indies.
"Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan are my four teams."
It must be noted Pakistan are in Group A of the event, alongside India, Ireland, Canada and USA.
Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2024 schedule and timings (PST)
June 6: Pakistan vs USA, Dallas, 8:30pm
June 9: Pakistan vs India, New York, 7:30pm
June 11: Pakistan vs Canada, New York, 7:30pm
June 16: Pakistan vs Ireland, Lauderhill, 7:30pm
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad
Babar Azam (c), Saim Ayub, Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, Shadab Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Usman Khan, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf.
Player support personnel
Wahab Riaz (senior team manager), Mansoor Rana (team manager), Gary Kirsten (head coach), Azhar Mahmood (assistant coach), Simon Helmot (fielding coach), David Reid (mental performance coach), Aftab Khan (high performance coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Irtaza Komail (chief security officer), Mohammad Imran (masseur), Mohammad Khurram Sarwar (team doctor), Talha Ijaz (analyst), Raza Kitchlew (media and digital manager) and Drikus Saaiman (strength and conditioning coach).
- Babar Azam
