Overview:
Basit said they would have gotten the’ A’ category contract if Iyer, Jaiswal, Shami, and Siraj were in Pakistan.
Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali was surprised with the omission of Mohammed Siraj, Mohammed Shami, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Shreyas Iyer from India’s Asia Cup team. Shubman Gill was named as the vice-captain, and the 25-year-old will open the innings with Abhishek Sharma. While Jaisal is among the five reserves, the selection panel overlooked the other three. Basit said they would have gotten the’ A’ category contract if Iyer, Jaiswal, Shami, and Siraj were in Pakistan.
“Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj, Shreyas Iyer and Yashasvi Jaiswal would have been in category A if they were in Pakistan,” Basit said.
Basit accused the BCCI of not treating Iyer respectfully. “Iyer hasn’t been treated with respect. He should have been in the team,” he added.
Basit is backing India to win the Asia Cup, saying that Sri Lanka is the only team that can challenge the Men in Blue.
“They have a good squad and I think Sri Lanka have the talent to challenge India.”
Meanwhile, Iyer amassed over 600 runs in IPL 2025 and recorded a strike rate 175.07. He was Team India’s highest run-getter in the successful campaign in the Champions Trophy 2025. He scored 243 runs in five matches at an average of 48.60.
