Pakistan all-rounderShadab Khan'snasty remark on legends has left cricket greats fuming. Shadab, reacting to criticism by former players, who wanted Shadab,Babar Azam, and Shaheen Afridi, out of the T20I team after defeat to India, said that legends couldn't beat the Men in Blue in World Cups, something that the current team was able to do. The trio was part of the Pakistan side that defeated India in the 2021 T20 World Cup, Pakistan's only win in World Cups against India.
"Criticism is not in our hands. Former cricketers have their own opinions. They were legends, but even they could not do what we have done. We have beaten India in a World Cup. Criticism is part of cricket's history," Shadab was quoted as saying by the Pakistan media.
The remark by Shadab Khan didn't go down well with former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, who minced no words in slamming the all-rounder. Ali said that greats like Saqlain Mushtaq, who is also Shadab Khan's father-in-law, used to keep players like Shadab in his pocket.
"Kya Saqlain match winner nahi tha?" questioned Basit Ali on a Pakistani TV show with Shoaib Malik. "Saqlain jaisa bowler tha na, Shadab jaise das uski jeb mein rehte hain. Abhi to ek hi hai. Das rehte hain, das. Ye main aapko bata raha hoon," he added.
"90s ke ya 2000 ke jo aap logon ke batch the na, wo sifarish se promote nahi hote the. Bagair performance se team mein nahi aate the. Ke Nabi bhi aayi to chaar number pe batting karne aa gaye, paanch number pe aa gaye, aur jab India aati hai ek over mein 17 run deke fielding bhi nahi hoti hai.
"Koi poochhne wala jo wahan pe journalist baithe hue hain ye bhi to pooche ke aapki performance hai kya? Aap bowling all-rounder ho ya batting all-rounder ho?
"Bachcha team aati hai to batting ke liye upar bhej dete hain Mike Hesson, kyunki Mike Hesson ke ladlein. Yahan pe Saqlain hota ya Waqar hota ya Inzamam hota, main dekhta kaise bhejte hain isko.
Basit recalled an old incident during Pakistan A's tour of England and said that Shadab used to stay glued to his mobile phones, adding that he took away his phones and prohibited him from using them. Basit did not explain the exact situation when he took away the phones. Using phones during matches is strictly prohibited, but not otherwise. Was Basit hinting about some foul play by Shadab?
"Yaar main aapko ek jo… Main aisi baat bata raha hoon jo kisi ke paas bhi nahi hogi. Main A team leke gaya tha England. Ye bhai sahab mobile pe lage rehte the, maine inse dono mobile cheen liye the. Ke aap mobile use nahi karoge.”
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