'Tomato seller knows more than PCB': Anger grows over Pakistan’s cricket crisis

Anger grows over Pakistan’s cricket crisis (AP Photo)

Pakistan cricket is experiencing a decline. Following their elimination from the group stage of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025, Mohammad Rizwan and his team were thoroughly defeated in the three-match ODI series against New Zealand. Furthermore, the Blackcaps won the five-match T20I series 4-1 against a youthful Pakistani squad.

Taking note of the lackluster performance, former Pakistani batter Basit Ali has criticized the selection committee and head coach Aaqib Javed, calling for their resignations. The management of Pakistan, which hosted the Champions Trophy, came under fire for selecting only one frontline spinner - Abrar Ahmad. A number of commentators criticized the management for messing up the selection for a landmark event, as it marked the first ICC tournament the country hosted in almost three decades.

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According to Basit, Pakistan will lose the forthcoming series against Bangladesh if the existing head coach and selection committee continue in their positions. Continuing the scathing attack, he even mentioned that a tomato seller is more knowledgeable than the existing leadership and management team in Pakistan.

“The selection committee should resign. They don't know how to make teams. From the Champions Trophy until now, it has been a flop show. Even the tomato seller knows more than you. They were also asking why you didn't include spinners in the Champions Trophy,” Basit Ali said on his YouTube channel. "Aaqib Javed should step down. If you stay for four months, you will lose against Bangladesh as well," he added.

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Additionally, Basit urged Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), to look into the matter and hold the Pakistan Super League (PSL) in the T10 format. According to the former Pakistani batsman, playing in the T10 format will enable players like Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan develop their power hitting.

After losing their group-stage matches against India and New Zealand, Pakistan were eliminated from the ICC Men's Champions Trophy. Rain in Rawalpindi forced them to postpone their final group-stage match against Bangladesh.

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Sikander Bakht, a former pacer for Pakistan, has already requested that the PCB take current players' central contracts away. Only if the Pakistani team wins the Asia Cup or a World Cup, he continued, should the central contracts be reinstated.

Given that the Kiwis did not choose their best team because the majority of their players are overseas on Indian Premier League (IPL) assignments, Pakistan's defeat to New Zealand in the white-ball series is all the more concerning.