Islamabad: Former cricketer Basit Ali has proposed that Test captain Shan Masood be considered for the opening position if Saim Ayub is unable to participate in next month's ICC Champions Trophy.
Among the eight teams competing in the tournament, Pakistan remains the only team yet to finalize its squad, likely due to uncertainty surrounding Ayub's fitness for the event.
During Pakistan's recent Test series in South Africa, the young left-hander sustained an ankle injury while pursuing the ball with teammate Aamer Jamal. He lost his footing and subsequently injured his ankle, leading him to seek advanced treatment for his fracture in London.
Basit shared his thoughts on the potential opening combination for the defending champions, taking into account Ayub's condition. He believes that if the 22-year-old opener recovers in time, he should partner with Fakhar Zaman at the top of the order.
However, if Ayub is unable to make a timely recovery, Basit advocates for Masood to take the opening role alongside Fakhar, rather than opting for the out-of-form Abdullah Shafique.
"If Saim returns, he and Fakhar would form the strongest opening pair. If Saim is not available, then Shan Masood should step in. Following the openers, Babar and Rizwan will follow, and the team's success will heavily rely on these four players," Basit stated on his YouTube channel.
Masood's last appearance in ODIs was in May 2023 against New Zealand in Karachi. In his nine ODI matches, he has accumulated 163 runs, averaging just 18.11.
Additionally, Basit highlighted the necessity for a spin-bowling all-rounder in Pakistan's lineup, recommending the inclusion of seasoned player Shadab Khan to address this gap in the squad.
Shadab Khan is currently needed, as Pakistan is in search of a spin all-rounder, Basit stated.
Shadab last played in an ODI against England during the 2023 World Cup. Since that match, he has been sidelined from the national team and has focused on domestic cricket.
In his ODI career, Shadab has participated in 70 matches, scoring 855 runs with an average of 25.90. As a bowler, he has taken 85 wickets at an average of 34.82, maintaining an economy rate of 5.24.
The outcome of the tournament could hinge on the first two matches. With formidable teams like India and New Zealand in Pakistan's group, Basit acknowledged, "It will be a challenging tournament for Pakistan."
