Former cricketer Basit Ali has made a humorous remark on India-Pakistan rivalry ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. During a recent cricket show discussion that went viral, Basit Ali’s sharp and witty one-line reply quickly caught attention, leaving the panel amused and fans on social media in splits.
India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group for the T20 World Cup to guarantee at least one high-profile clash between the two rivals in the 20-team tournament. The group has been kept relatively easy, increasing the chances of both teams advancing to the next stage of the much-awaited competition.
“We Can Pray” – Basit Ali’s Blunt Take on Stopping India Goes Viral
In a video circulating on X (formerly Twitter), a Pakistani show host was seen discussing India’s playing XI for the upcoming marquee event. He said the lineup is stacked with individual match-winners from top to bottom.
When the host asked Basit Ali what strategy a coach could possibly use to stop such a strong team, the response was short, savage, and hilarious: “We can pray.”
Former Pakistan cricketers share their strategy to stop this ultra strong Indian batting lineup at the 2026 T20 World Cup. 😂 pic.twitter.com/gL7f7ezcaw
— Sameer Allana (@HitmanCricket) January 28, 2026
India Set to Face Pakistan in High-Profile T20 World Cup Clash in Colombo
India are scheduled to face Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on February 15 in Colombo. Both teams are part of Group A, along with Namibia, the Netherlands, and the USA.
India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, are expected to start as favourites in the marquee clash due to their strong record against Pakistan in ICC tournaments. The Men in Blue also defeated Pakistan three times in last year’s Asia Cup, including the final at the Dubai International Stadium.
Pakistan have managed just one win over India in T20 World Cup history. That victory came in 2021, when Babar Azam’s side defeated Virat Kohli and India by ten wickets in Dubai.
In the 2024 T20 World Cup, where India ended an 11-year wait for an ICC title, Pakistan failed to qualify for the semi-finals after group-stage defeats against India and the USA.
Pakistan’s T20 World Cup Participation Still Uncertain
Pakistan have still not confirmed whether they will take part in the T20 World Cup. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi said that the final decision will be taken either on January 30 or February 2.
The uncertainty began after Bangladesh were removed from the tournament for refusing to travel to India due to security concerns. The ICC replaced Bangladesh with Scotland. Naqvi stated that Pakistan would pull out of the tournament if the Prime Minister asked them to do so.
Although Pakistan have already named their squad, the board is still weighing all options. The PCB is also keeping the possibility of a boycott open, especially for the match against India.
According to Telecom Asia Sport, Pakistan may first assess the team’s performance in the opening two matches. They play the Netherlands on February 7 and the USA on February 10. If Pakistan win both games, the board could consider skipping the match against India.
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