New Delhi [India], September 18 (ANI): Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali did not mince words when he criticized Nathan Lyon’s bold prediction regarding the upcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series. Lyon, an experienced Australian spinner, recently claimed on the Willow Talk podcast that Australia would sweep the series against India with a 5-0 victory, a statement Basit Ali found “stupid.”

During the podcast, Lyon responded to a question from former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin, confidently stating, “My prediction is 5-0 to Australia.” This prediction has raised eyebrows and sparked controversy within the cricketing community.

Reacting strongly to Lyon’s comment, Basit Ali expressed his disapproval, arguing that such statements should not come from active cricketers. He emphasized that such remarks are more suited to retired players like Ricky Ponting. Basit also urged Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to respond to Lyon’s bold prediction.

“I find Nathan Lyon’s statement about Australia winning 5-0 against India ridiculous. India has dominated Australia in the last two BGT series, and such comments are unbecoming of current players. I urge Ravichandran Ashwin to retort by saying that India will win 5-0 instead,” Basit stated on his YouTube channel.

Even though the Border Gavaskar Trophy series is set to commence in November, the buzz and excitement among players have already begun to build. Nathan Lyon is not the only Australian expressing strong opinions. Travis Head, another key player for Australia, acknowledged the formidable challenge posed by the Indian team under Rohit Sharma’s leadership.

In an interview with Star Sports, Travis Head discussed his perspective on facing India. He noted that while he doesn’t consider India his favorite opponent, their frequent clashes have made him familiar with their strengths and weaknesses. Head, who has been in good form recently, relishes the competitive nature of these encounters.

“I don’t see India as my favorite team to play against; it’s just that we play them so often. Over the past few years, I’ve been in good form and have enjoyed contributing to the team. Facing India is always highly competitive, and it’s easy to get motivated for these games,” Head remarked.

He went on to describe how challenging it is to play against India, highlighting their skill and resilience. “India is an extremely difficult team to play against. However, it’s been gratifying to perform well in a few matches. I’m looking forward to preparing thoroughly and being ready for a successful summer,” Head added.

The much-anticipated Border-Gavaskar series between India and Australia is scheduled to kick off on November 22, with the first Test match taking place in Perth. As the series draws closer, both teams are gearing up for what promises to be an intense and thrilling contest.