Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali slammed the ICC over its ranking system for the ODI batters and cried foul over the positioning of Babar Azam in the standings. In the recent round of updates to the standings, the former Pakistan skipper retained the number one spot despite not having played a single ODI in 2024. Indian skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill occupy the 2nd and 2rd positions respectively.
Why ICC is Babar Azam’s ‘enemy’?
Speaking on a video in his YouTube channel, Ali claimed that the ICC didn’t want Babar Azam to perform by placing him in the number on position. He questioned the logic behind the ranking system, noting that big names like Travis Head and Rachin Ravindra have been left out of the top ten.
“I think the ICC wants that Babar doesn’t perform. Babar Azam would be happy with being the number one-ranked batter in ODIs. Who gives these rankings,?” Ali said.
He further questioned Babar Azam occupying the top spot, noting that he had last managed to get a hundred against Nepal in the Asia Cup. Instead, he heaped praise on Head, Rachin, Virat Kohli and Pakistan’s Rizwan and Zaman for shining through the ODI World Cup.
“The people at ICC are Babar Azam’s enemies. If you asked Babar who is the current number one, he would also pick Travis Head or Virat Kohli. Even he wouldn’t say that he is the number one,” he concluded.
Editor's Pick
Top Stories
