Former players responsible for Pakistan cricket’s downfall: Basit Ali

Former Pakistan cricketers Waqar Yunis, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan during a felicitation ceremony (File Photo: IANS)

Lahore – Veteran cricketer Basit Ali has lashed out at former players and held them responsible for the downfall of the Pakistan cricket team.

Basit said that Pakistan cricket was suffering badly due to the groupism among the former cricketers and their untoward criticism of the team, reports nation.com.pk.

The former head of Pakistan’s junior selection committee also appealed to the former cricketers to come to the grounds and transfer their experience to youngsters.

“Former cricketers can coach the youngsters at their own too and it is not necessary for them to wait for a job in the Board to work for the betterment of Pakistan cricket,” Basit told Waqt News on Sunday, as quoted by nation.com.pk.

He said that the unnecessary criticism of former players for the last one year didn’t bring about any improvement in Pakistan cricket.

And now they should unconditionally support the team for at least a year at a stretch which would have a positive impact on the performances of the players.

He alleged that the former cricketers just tried to blast the board and the players in the media due to their personal agendas and were not ready to help out the players in the field.

Basit was also not impressed with the approach of modern players and said today a player doesn’t focus on the game and try to learn about it.

“The players did not try to learn about the game. They don’t know about the strengths and weaknesses of their opponents. They don’t give a dman to understand the pitch and conditions. Instead their focus keeps on other than cricketing issues.”

Basit said that Pakistan are facing a problem in finding quality spinners and batsmen now.

“Naturally talented great players like Javed Miandad and Zaheer Khan would not emerge now. We have to develop the players and turn the average talents into the performers,” he reasoned.