New Delhi: Former Pakistan batter Basit Ali made a surprising claim as he explained the reason behind Gary Kirsten’s resignation as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach. Basit said Kirsten wanted a different captain and was not happy with Mohammad Rizwan’s appointment as the white-ball captain of the Pakistan team. Kirsten resigned from his post a day after Rizwan replaced Babar as Pakistan’s captain in ODIs and T20Is.
Kirsten’s resignation came as a surprise to many considering the World Cup-winning South African coach was expected to continue at least till the Champions Trophy 2025 which is likely to be played in February next year. Kirsten had signed a two-year deal with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) in April this year but stepped down from his post just six months into his reign.
Kirsten decided to step down just days before the start of Pakistan’s upcoming ODI series against Australia. The former South Africa batter will leave Pakistan’s coaching setup without having guided the team in a single ODI game during his tenure.
Opening up on Kirsten’s resignation, Basit said one of the biggest reasons behind it was the South African coach not getting his desired captain in white-ball cricket. Basit said Kirsten didn’t want Rizwan as captain and had demanded a player to be picked in the limited-overs squad but he was sidelined despite his recommendation.
“The story started when Mohammad Rizwan was named Pakistan’s new white-ball captain. Kirsten wanted a different captain and demanded another player in the team. Coincidently, both of them are not in the team. He was thinking that maybe he could have full authority. However, he doesn’t know that in Pakistan, even the PCB chairman can get changed overnight,” Basit said in a video on his YouTube channel.
Whoever raises their voice will be sidelined: Basit Ali
Basit further made some sensational claims as he called PCB’s current chairman Mohsin Naqvi a powerful man and said anyone who dares to raise his voice in Pakistan cricket will be sidelined. Basit said right from coaches to the selectors and the team manager, everything in Pakistan cricket is currently being controlled by the PCB chief.
“Mohsin Naqvi has come with a lot of power. The coaches, selectors and managers are being removed. Earlier, the chairman used to be changed from time to time. Now, whoever raises their voice will be sidelined,” Basit added.
