PCB seeks explanation from Basit Ali over ‘India will intentionally lose’ remark during World Cup

Pakistan cricket has found itself with a plateful of issues to deal with. After the national team failed to make the semi-finals of the recently concluded Cricket World Cup, the daggers come out as usual. Chief selector Inzamam-ul-Haq has already tendered his resignation while the future of head coach Mickey Arthur and captain Sarfaraz Ahmed could also come under the scanner. The Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) cricket committee is set to meet in early August to review the performance of not only the men’s team but also that of the women and other junior sides.

But amid all this, former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali, too, has found himself in trouble. The PCB has put the 48-year-old’s coaching assignment and hold and sought an explanation from him for remarking during the World Cup that India would lose intentionally in the latter stages to put Pakistan out of the tournament.

Fans and former Pakistan players were eagerly praying for India’s win over England at Edgbaston on June 30 as it would have kept the Men in Green’s semi-final hopes alive. But England beat both India and New Zealand in their final two matches to make the semi-finals along with the Black Caps and Pakistan lost out because of an inferior net run-rate.

Ali had made his controversial statement on a Pakistani channel ahead of the England-India game, leaving even the anchor stunned. He had even suggested that surprises in cricket are not by chances anymore. According to Ali, India would also lose to Bangladesh which they didn’t.

Ali’s coaching appointment put on hold

India TV cited reports saying the PCB has put on hold Ali’s appointment as a regional coach in Karachi. “The board, in fact, conveyed to Basit in clear terms that since he was a Test player and working for them on assignments he should explain and avoid his reckless comments on television,” the reports quoted a source as saying.

“The PCB found itself in an embarrassing situation because of the reckless comments by Basit which were without any evidence or substance as internationally this hurt the image of Pakistan cricket.” The PCB reportedly is putting second thoughts into Ali’s appointment fearing the move could tarnish Pakistan’s image internationally.

Ali has courted controversies earlier as well. He once accused the coach of the Sialkot regional team of intentionally losing a match. Also, he slapped former batsman Mahmood Hamid during a domestic game in which Ali was the coach. He first denied the act but said later that he was upset with Hamid’s remarks.