The Pakistan Cricket Board has put former batsman Basit Ali’s appointment for a coaching assignment on hold and sought an explanation from him for suggesting that India would intentionally lose matches to knock Pakistan out of the recent World Cup.
A source in the PCB told PTI that Ali’s appointment asregional coach in Karachi has been held up after the Board had second thoughtsabout appointing him.
“The board, in fact, conveyed to Basit in clear termsthat since he was a Test player and working for them on assignments he shouldexplain and avoid his reckless comments on television,” the source said.
Basit had claimed that India would lose intentionally toEngland and other teams to keep Pakistan out of the semifinals which caused afurore. Pakistan were knocked out of the mega-event’s league stage.
“The PCB found itself in an embarrassing situationbecause of the reckless comments by Basit which were without any evidence orsubstance as internationally this hurt the image of Pakistan cricket,” thesource stated.
“The thing is that the PCB now has second thoughtsabout Basit as Karachi regional coach and wondering that if they appoint himwhat impression this will ceate internationally since Pakistan is a seniormember of the International Cricket Council,” he added.
PCB had shortlisted Basit for a coaching assignment inKarachi region but has now put that decision on hold.
“Basit was expecting to be issued a contract soon butthis has not happened as yet,” the source said.
Basit worked as chairman of the national junior selectioncommittee.
While commentating on a national T20 match some years ago onthe state-owned Pakistan Television, he accused the coach of the Sialkotregional team of intentionally losing a match.
When questioned, he slapped a former batsman Mahmood Hamidat the national stadium during a domestic cricket match in which Basit wascoach of one team.Basit first denied slapping Hamid but eventuallyadmitted, saying he was upset with the remarks made by Hamid.