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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali’s team includes six players from India and none from his own nation, Pakistan.
Virat Kohli celebrates after scoring fifty runs during the ICC Champions Trophy semifinal cricket match between India and Australia (Picture credit: AP)
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has said that he would like to pick Rohit Sharma as the captain of his Champions Trophy XI, adding that he has performed as a skipper and his 76-run knock in the final against New Zealand made the game one-sided for the Indians.
The Rohit-led Indian team beat New Zealand by four wickets in a thrilling final to lift the coveted trophy.
Basit Ali‘s team featured no Pakistan players despite their presence in the Champions Trophy as the host country.
“I have made my playing 11. I have looked at performances in Dubai. I agree that there have been big performances in Gaddafi, but I have made the 11 which I felt is right. I will not go on the one made by ICC,” Basit Ali said while speaking on his YouTube channel.
“My captain is Rohit Sharma. He has performed being a captain and his 76 in the final made the match one-sided,” Basit Ali said.
The former Pakistan cricketer then picked Kiwi opener Rachin Ravindra, ace India batter Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer at positions two, three and four respectively.
Rachin slammed two centuries while Kohli scored a century against arch-rivals Pakistan and 84 in the semifinal against Australia.
“Rachin Ravindra at number two. 2 centuries are a big thing. There is only one player at No.3 – Virat Kohli. He is an artist, and only one who plays can understand how he played,” Basit Ali said.
“I have kept Shreyas Iyer at 4. He has improved a lot. His batting has played a big role in India’s win. In the semifinal and final, he played well and took responsibility,” Basit Ali added.
“At No.5 is KL Rahul. Wicket-keeper and a complete batter. The best fielder at No.6 is Glenn Phillips. He is a dangerous bowler and a dangerous batter as well. At No.7 is Azmatullah Omarzai,” Basit Ali said.
Coming to the bowlers, the former Pakistan cricketer was caught between Axar Patel and Mitchell Santner but went with the latter.
The former Pakistan cricketer’s Champions Trophy XI eventually looked like this: Rohit Sharma (c), Rachin Ravindra, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Glenn Phillips, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Mohammed Shami, Varun Chakravarthy