The Pakistan Cricket Board has sought an explanation from Basit Ali 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 as regional coach in Karachi has been held up after the Board had second thoughts about appointing him. “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 source said.
“Basit was expecting to be issued a contract soon but this has not happened as yet,” he clarified.
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Basit caused a furore by claiming that India would lose intentionally to England and other teams to keep Pakistan out of the semifinals. Pakistan was knocked out of the World Cup in the league stage. “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 source stated.
‘Second thoughts’
“The thing is that the PCB now has second thoughts about Basit as Karachi regional coach and [are] wondering that if they appoint him what impression this will create internationally since Pakistan is a senior member of the International Cricket Council,” he added.
Basit has worked as chairman of the national junior selection committee.
While commentating on a national T20 match some years ago on the state-owned Pakistan Television, he had accused the coach of the Sialkot regional team of intentionally losing a match.
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