"Thoda sa fashion mein lag gaya tha" - Basit Ali on Ishan Kishan's absence from Indian team
Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali recently commented on keeper-batter Ishan Kishan's absence from the Indian cricket team. He suggested that the 26-year-old got distracted from the game and was more focused on fashion.
Kishan took a break from cricket citing fatigue in December 2023. He opted out of India's South Africa tour because of the same and hasn't been picked by the selectors since then.
Speaking in his latest YouTube video, Basit Ali said (from 9:28):
"Ishan Kishan has fallen down the pecking order. Woh bhi thoda sa fashion mein lag gaya tha (He too got into fashion a bit)."
It is worth mentioning that Ishan Kishan's central contract was also terminated by the BCCI due to his refusal to play in the domestic circuit despite multiple warnings. He was last seen in action for Mumbai Indians (MI) in the 2024 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL). The southpaw amassed 360 runs across 14 innings at an average of 22.85.
"Deserved to not qualify for the Champions Trophy" - Basit Ali on Sri Lanka
In the aforementioned video, Basit Ali also spoke about Sri Lanka's dismal performances in the ongoing three-match T20I series against India. Despite the home advantage, Sri Lanka suffered losses in the first two fixtures.
He urged the Sri Lankan men's team to learn from their women's team, who won the recently concluded 2024 Women's Asia Cup. Opining that the side thoroughly deserved to not qualify for the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy, Basit Ali remarked (from 0:27):
"Sri Lanka deserved to not qualify for the Champions Trophy. It seems as if they are also more concerned about maintaining friendships, just as we have seen in the Pakistan team. My personal opinion is that their women's team have performed better. Sri Lanka's men's team should learn from the women's team how to keep the belief."
The third and final T20I of the series between India and Sri Lanka will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 30.