Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has launched a blistering attack on wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris following Pakistan’s defeat to Afghanistan in the Tri-Nation Series taking place in UAE, accusing him of playing “senseless cricket” and losing the trust of the team's management.

 

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Basit said Haris keeps repeating the same mistakes and once again played an irresponsible shot to give his wicket away to Mohammad Nabi.

 

"Haris got out to Nabi. My question is, Nabi was brought on specifically to bowl to a left-handed batter, but instead, you get out to him. This shows you have no cricketing sense. You’re playing senseless cricket, just swinging for a six to look like a hero," Basit said.

 

 

He further criticised Haris’s approach, stressing that even the coach does not appear to back him anymore, pointing to his continually declining batting position.

 

"Heroes aren’t born overnight; they are made through hard work. Haris has been handed everything on a platter. When the pitch is tough, the openers step up, but look at what’s happening against Bangladesh, he was batting at six or seven, and the same thing happened here.

 

"When a player slips from number six to number seven, it’s clear the coach doesn’t trust him either," Basit explained.

 

In the match, Afghanistan opted to bat first and posted 169/5 in 20 overs, powered by a 113-run stand between Ibrahim Zadran and Sediqullah Atal. Zadran made 54 off 39, while Atal scored 64 off 45.

 

Faheem Ashraf starred with the ball for Pakistan, grabbing career-best figures of 4/27, while Saim Ayub chipped in with a wicket. Pakistan, however, faltered in the chase and finished on 151/9.

 

Haris Rauf offered late resistance with an unbeaten 34 off 16, smashing four sixes. Fakhar Zaman (25), Agha Salman (20), and Sahibzada Farhan (18) also contributed but could not anchor the innings.

 

Afghanistan’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Fazalhaq Farooqi, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, and Noor Ahmad taking two wickets each.

 

Despite the result, Pakistan stayed on top of the table with four points, while Afghanistan moved into second place. Hosts UAE remained winless at the bottom.

 

Pakistan will next face UAE at the same venue on Thursday.