Pakistan cricket has been under massive transformation over the recent past and, therefore, has not been producing better performance. Downloading at least some talent players, the team has never been capable of utilizing its full potential and achieving results. This latest fiasco has already ignited hot discussion among crickets around the world and many including former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali went to the extent of decrying the team management.
Basit Ali takes a Dig at Jason Gillespie-Led Management
Basit Ali, the former Pakistani cricketer, has not spared the team management, headed by Jason Gillespie, and said that they are making blunders that can only deepen the country’s cricketing crisis. During an interview, Basit Ali expressed his disapproval of the squad that was chosen for the first Test against Bangladesh and advised that the matter cannot be rectified unless the team management ceases to make such errors.
“Look, I’m not going to sugarcoat it. The team management is making mistakes, and we’re going to keep on suffering until they change their approach,” Basit Ali said. “I think we’re making it too complicated. We need to go back to basics and focus on playing good cricket,”
Basit Ali also aired his feelings that the team would get their due wake up call in the following home series against England. ‘We will have opportunity to see how we fare against a might team like England If we cannot even challenge them then it is high time we started asking our selves what wrong?’ he said
Ali’s Proposal: Make Babar Azam Batting Coach
In a rare twist, Basit Ali even recommended that the current captain of the Pakistan team Babar Azam be also made the batting coach. He is of the opinion that owing to his terrific talent in batting and the number of years he has been playing, Azam is best suited for the position.
“I think Babar Azam would be fantastic as batting coach. He’s one of the best batsmen in the world, and he’s got a great understanding of the game. He could help our players improve their technique and develop a better understanding of how to play different types of bowling,” Basit Ali said.
What Basit Ali said has drawn the attention of many fans and other experts, who have weighed in on the subject. Some of them have approved his suggestion stating that this would just be a good opportunity to challenge Azam and use him to the optimum while the other have opposed it stating that it would be unfair to add more work to Azam.
A Reality Check Awaits
Basit Ali believes that Pakistan will get a wake up call in the subsequent series against England and this will will make the team to realize their short comings.
“England is a strong team, and we’ll need to be at our best if we want to compete against them. If we can’t even give them a good run for their money, then we need to ask ourselves some tough questions,” Basit Ali said.
While the team management has not found much favour from Basit Ali, he is still hopeful of Pakistan’s performance in England. We have got some good players in the team and if we are able to perform to the best of our abilities, probably, we can give a good account of ourselves against England, he said.
Basit Ali’s statements have shut the cricketing fraternity with both fan and the expert having their view on the issue. Some have frowned upon his idea to turn Babar Azam as the batting coach, some other supported his idea stating that it will be one of the most productive ways to use Babar Azam’s capabilities.
Lastly, it is for one to wonder how Pakistan will perform in their upcoming series against England. But one thing is clear – if they wish to increase the odds of success they will have to have a good look at themselves and change. Indeed as Basit Ali mentioned we cannot continue on doing the same thing over and over again and expect different results, it is high time we changed the tactics and started to play some good cricket.