"He doesn't deserve to be there" - Basit Ali unhappy with Aleem Dar's inclusion in Pakistan's selection committee
Former Pakistani batter Basit Ali has criticized the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for naming veteran umpire Aleem Dar in the recently announced National Selection Committee. The revamped committee also features former Test players Aaqib Javed and Azhar Ali alongside analyst Hasan Cheema.
Basit opined that picking an umpire in the selection committee was a horrible move. He sarcastically suggested that the Pakistani board should also consider adding a match referee and a person from the media to the selection panel.
In a video shared on his official YouTube channel, Basit said:
"This is an absolutely surprising decision. It is surprising to me that Aleem Dar has been added to the selection committee. He was a great umpire and is a very good human but he doesn't deserve to be there. Not now, but in the coming days, voices will be raised. If you have kept an umpire in the selection committee, then please add a match referee too along with one person from the media."
It is worth mentioning that Aleem Dar officiated in 448 international matches across formats, the most by any umpire. He had announced that he would retire from umpiring after Pakistan's 2024-25 domestic season.
The announcement of the National Selection Committee came after Pakistan's Test series loss to England in the recently concluded Test series opener at Multan. The committee will pick the Men in Green's squad for the remaining two Test matches of the series.
"Even I can score runs on such a pitch, and that too without a helmet" - Basit Ali slams Shan Masood after Pakistan's embarrassing loss to England in the Multan Test
In the same video, Basit Ali also criticized Pakistan's Test captain Shan Masood as the team lost by an innings and 47 runs against England in the Test series opener at Multan.
He slammed Masood for putting all the blame on the bowlers and suggested that even he could have scored big runs on such a flat wicket.
"I had said that they have made a flat pitch and to save themselves, they will put all the blame on the bowlers. Today, he put the complete blame on the bowlers. He said that our bowlers conceded 800 runs. Did you keep three close-in fielders on each side? You were just copying, but intelligence is needed even in copying," Basit said.
"You became secure after the first innings, thinking that you have confirmed your place. Even I can score runs on such a pitch, and that too without a helmet," he added.
Basit alleged that Masood was made Pakistan's Test captain because of his closeness to Pakistan's red-ball coach Jason Gillespie and white-ball coach Gary Kirsten, adding:
"Just admit that your captaincy was bad. You don't deserve to be the captain. Who recommended you for captaincy, tell people that. He spent time in Gary Kirsten's academy which is why he recommended him for captaincy. Jason Gillespie was earlier the coach of Yorkshire. We are not kids. We know everything."
The cricketer-turned-expert also reckoned that Masood and Gillespie could make things difficult for the out-of-form Babar Azam.
"With the way Shan Masood was sitting with Jason Gillespie and Azhar Mahmood today, I am giving a clear message to Babar Azam that he is going to be in trouble," he said.
The second Test of the three-match series between Pakistan and England will be played at Multan from Tuesday, October 15.