🏏 Pakistan Cricket Faces Another Controversy
Pakistan cricket is once again in the headlines, and this time, it’s Basit Ali vs Mohammad Haris over remarks about star batter Babar Azam.
Former cricketer Basit Ali launched a scathing verbal attack on young wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris after Haris suggested that Babar Azam needs to “play faster in T20 cricket” and that senior players should “step aside to make room for youngsters.”
Basit Ali, furious over the comments, lashed out publicly, saying:
“If Mohammad Haris says Babar Azam needs improvement, I think Haris should be beaten with a stick. Who are you to question Babar?”
This heated exchange has divided fans and experts alike, sparking debates on Pakistan cricket’s leadership, T20 batting strategy, and the future of senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.
🔥 What Sparked the Basit Ali vs Mohammad Haris Feud?
The controversy began when Mohammad Haris, in an interview on a local YouTube channel, made a statement implying that Babar Azam needs to improve his strike rate and play faster in T20 cricket.
Haris stated:
“No doubt, Babar and Rizwan have delivered for Pakistan, but if we want to set a benchmark, juniors should get more opportunities. Babar needs to play fast in T20 cricket.”
While Haris’ comments were subtle, they triggered an explosive reaction from senior ex-players, especially Basit Ali and Tanveer Ahmed, who defended Babar Azam’s legacy.
💥 Basit Ali’s Explosive Response 😡 | “Haris Should Be Beaten with a Stick”
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali didn’t hold back his anger during a discussion with Kamran Akmal on another local cricket show.
“If Mohammad Haris says Babar Azam needs improvement, Haris should be beaten with a stick. Haris, who are you to talk about Babar Azam?”
Basit Ali even questioned Haris’ intentions:
“The captain has changed now. If Babar were still Pakistan’s T20I captain, would Haris have made this statement?”
This sparked huge debates on social media, with fans taking sides — #BabarAzam, #BasitAli, and #MohammadHaris quickly started trending on Twitter (X).
👊 Tanveer Ahmed Joins the Debate: “Focus on Your Own Career”
Former Pakistan pacer Tanveer Ahmed also criticized Haris, saying:
“Mohammad Haris, what kind of big player are you? First, build your own value. Then, talk about someone like Babar Azam, who is a world-class player.”
Tanveer emphasized that Haris, who has struggled to cement his place in the national team, should focus on improving his game instead of publicly criticizing Babar.
📊 Babar Azam’s T20I Records Speak Volumes 🔥
Despite criticisms over his strike rate, Babar Azam remains one of the greatest T20I batters in the world.
| Stat | Babar Azam |
|---|---|
| Matches | 128 |
| Runs | 4,223 |
| Average | 39.83 |
| Strike Rate | 129.22 |
| Fifties | 34 |
| Centuries | 3 |
| Partnership Runs (with Rizwan) | 3,300 @ Avg 46.47 |
These numbers place Babar Azam second in the list of all-time highest T20I run-scorers — a testament to his consistency and dominance.
🏏 Mohammad Haris’ International Career So Far
In contrast, Mohammad Haris is still an emerging player:
- T20Is Played: 9
- Runs Scored: 156
- Average: 17.3
- Best Performance: 31 (vs England)
While Haris showed glimpses of potential during the 2022 T20 World Cup, he hasn’t been able to secure a permanent spot in the playing XI.
⚡ T20 World Cup 2024 Disaster: The Turning Point?
This debate around Babar Azam’s strike rate and the role of youngsters comes in the wake of Pakistan’s disastrous 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
- Pakistan suffered a shock defeat against the USA 🫣
- Crashed out in the group stage
- Led to major PCB restructuring
Since then, the Pakistan Cricket Board has rested Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from T20I cricket, signaling a shift towards rebuilding with younger players.
🎯 PCB’s Move Away from Senior Players 🏏
The PCB’s decision to omit Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan from the T20I setup in 2025 raised eyebrows.
- Their last T20I appearance was December 13, 2024.
- Neither has played a T20I match in 2025 so far.
- Focus has shifted to players like Saim Ayub, Mohammad Haris, and Farhan.
This strategic shift by PCB is one reason Haris’ comments became so controversial.
💬 Social Media Explodes: Fans Defend Babar Azam ❤️
The moment Basit Ali’s fiery statement went viral, fans took to Twitter/X, Instagram, and YouTube to voice their opinions:
- #BabarAzam trended with over 200K tweets
- Many fans defended Babar’s record and called Haris’ remarks “disrespectful”
- Others argued that Pakistan needs to improve T20 strike rates
This has created a sharp divide between Babar loyalists and supporters of Pakistan’s next-gen cricketers.
📺 Asia Cup 2025: Where Does Babar Azam Stand?
With the Asia Cup 2025 approaching, cricket fans are curious if Babar Azam will make a comeback.
- Currently, PCB has not included Babar in the T20 squad.
- However, sources suggest Babar might return for ODI matches leading up to the Odi World Cup.
- Babar’s performance in domestic tournaments like the Pakistan Cup will be crucial.
🔥 Expert Opinions: Does Babar Need to Change His T20 Approach?
Cricket experts are divided:
- Some agree with Haris, arguing that Babar Azam should accelerate his strike rate to match modern T20 demands.
- Others, like Basit Ali, believe Babar’s style has been Pakistan’s backbone and that youngsters should earn their place before criticizing seniors.
🔍 Key TakeAways
- Babar Azam strike rate controversy
- Mohammad Haris vs Basit Ali news
- Babar Azam T20 record
- Pakistan cricket news today
- Asia Cup 2025 squad
- PCB changes 2025
- Pakistan T20 World Cup 2024 failure
- Mohammad Haris criticism
- Babar Azam comeback 2025
📌 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1. Why did Basit Ali criticize Mohammad Haris?
A: Basit Ali blasted Haris for suggesting that Babar Azam needs to improve his T20 strike rate, calling the remark “disrespectful.”
Q2. What did Mohammad Haris say about Babar Azam?
A: Haris said that while Babar and Rizwan have been great performers, they should play faster in T20Is and allow juniors more opportunities.
Q3. What is Babar Azam’s T20I strike rate?
A: Babar Azam has a strike rate of 129.22 in T20 internationals — one of the highest among top-order batters globally.
Q4. Is Babar Azam dropped from Pakistan’s T20 squad?
A: Yes, for now. The PCB has rested Babar from T20 cricket in 2025, focusing on rebuilding with younger players.
Q5. Will Babar Azam play in Asia Cup 2025?
A: It’s uncertain. PCB hasn’t included Babar in the T20 squad, but there’s speculation he could feature in ODIs or T20 World Cup 2026.
🏁 Final Thoughts
The Basit Ali vs Mohammad Haris controversy reflects Pakistan cricket’s internal struggles between senior players and next-generation talent.
While Haris’ remarks might have been poorly timed, his point about modern T20 batting demands cannot be ignored. On the other hand, Babar Azam’s records make him undeniably one of the world’s best batters.
With the Asia Cup 2025 around the corner and the ODI World Cup 2027 on the horizon, Pakistan cricket needs unity, strategy, and respect between seniors and juniors to succeed on the global stage.