"Cricket is small, he is big" - Basit Ali slams Wanindu Hasaranga after IND vs SL 2nd T20I
Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali didn't mince his words while assessing Sri Lankan all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga's performance in the side's second T20I of the ongoing series against India at Pallekele on Sunday, July 28. He opines that the 27-year-old believes that he has become bigger than the sport.
Hasaranga bagged a golden duck in the second T20I. He failed to make amends with the ball as well, conceding 34 runs from two overs while picking up a solitary wicket. Sri Lanka suffered a seven-wicket loss in the must-win match, failing to defend a DLS target of 78 in eight overs.
Speaking in his latest YouTube video on his channel 'Basit Ali,' he said (from 1:36):
"Number one all-rounder, Wanindu Hasaranga. I think he has become bigger than cricket. Cricket is small, he is big. He got out on the first ball by playing a poor shot. With the ball, he was taken to the cleaners by Suryakumar Yadav and Yashasvi Jaiswal."
Sarcastically suggesting that Sri Lanka should give Hasaranga the 'Player of the Match' award and make him rest for the upcoming third T20I, Basit Ali added (from 5:58):
"According to me, the Man of the Match should be given to Hasaranga. Give him the Player of the Match award and ask him to rest for the third match. He hits silly shots and his bowling is also the same. It seems as if he has become Boom Boom Bumrah. He should learn from Bishnoi."
India have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. While Hasaranga had a poor outing in the second T20I, he bowled a decent spell in the opening encounter. The crafty spinner registered figures of 4-0-28-1 when the visitors posted an imposing 213-run total.
"I don't know whether their middle-order knows how to bat or not" - Basit Ali on Sri Lanka's batting performances against India
In the aforementioned video, Basit Ali also criticized Sri Lanka's middle-order batters for their underwhelming performances in the first two T20Is against India.
The cricketer-turned-expert pointed out that the batters failed to make the most of the impressive starts provided by the top-order. Mentioning that the home team seemed to be scared of India, Basit Ali remarked (from 4:08):
"Sri Lanka's middle-order batters just couldn't perform. I think India's dominance is such that Sri Lanka is afraid of India's name. In both matches, there were good partnerships followed by sudden collapses. I don't know whether their middle-order knows how to bat or not."
Sri Lanka would aim to salvage some pride by claiming a consolation win over India in the third T20I. The final contest of the series will be played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Pallekele on Tuesday, July 30.