"Shaadi kar le bhai, ab umar zyada ho gayi hai teri" - Basit Ali's advice to Babar Azam
Basit Ali has come up with some interesting advice for Pakistan's Babar Azam amid the ace batter's form slump. He suggested that the Men in Green's white-ball captain should now focus on getting married.
The former cricketer feels Babar would be a completely different person after marriage. Opining that tying the knot will help the right-handed batter turn things around on the cricket field, Basit said during a live session on his YouTube channel (from 8:41):
"Babar Azam, talk to your parents and get married. He will be a completely different man after that. I know how a player feels when he is not performing well. I request Babar's parents to get him to marry. Like an elder brother, I want him to tell him Shaadi kar le bhai, ab umar zyada ho gayi hai teri (Get married brother, you are now old enough)."
Babar Azam has come under the scanner following a string of poor performances in Tests. He failed to get going in Pakistan's recently concluded two-match home Test series against Bangladesh, scoring just 64 runs across four innings.
The 29-year-old has failed to cross the 50-run mark in his last 16 Test innings. His last 50-plus score in the format came against New Zealand in December 2022.
"Pakistan have learned a lesson and it will benefit them" - Basit Ali on Shan Masood-led side Test series defeat to Bangladesh
Bangladesh scripted history by clinching their maiden Test series victory over Pakistan. Basit Ali reckoned in the same video that Pakistani cricket has now hit rock bottom, and they will only go upwards from here.
He emphasized that the side should be ready to improve after getting a reality check. The cricketer-turned-expert remarked (from 1:58):
"This is a wake-up call for Pakistan cricket. They can't go lower than this. Now, it's the time to rise and open your eyes. If you still don't open your eyes after losing to Bangladesh, play Test series only against Nepal and Afghanistan. Pakistan have learned a lesson and it will benefit them."
Pakistan will now host England for a three-match Test series. The opener is scheduled to start in Multan on October 7.