Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali has expressed strong reservations about the latest ICC ODI rankings, suggesting that the governing body is intentionally undermining Babar Azam’s performance.
Speaking to the media, Basit took issue with the top-ranked ODI batters list, which places Babar Azam at number one, followed by Rohit Sharma, Shubman Gill, and Virat Kohli. He questioned the criteria used to determine the rankings, asking, “Who gives these rankings? On what basis are Babar Azam and Shubman Gill there?”
Basit pointed out that outstanding performers in the recent 2023 World Cup, such as Travis Head and Rachin Ravindra, were not ranked higher. He noted that Babar Azam’s last ODI century came against Nepal in the Asia Cup, and that he did not score a single hundred in the World Cup.
“The people at ICC are Babar Azam’s enemies,” Basit alleged. “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.”
Basit’s comments have sparked debate about the ICC’s ranking system and its transparency. The ICC has yet to respond to Basit’s claims.
