Basit Ali orders Pakistan to copy BCCI's domestic cricket participation rule to avoid downfall

Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has backed new Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) guidelines after a humiliating loss in the second Test match against the West Indies. Basit Ali said that Pakistan players should focus on domestic cricket, following the 120-run defeat in the recently concluded series.

After winning the series opener by 127 runs, Pakistan was expected to perform well on a similar spin-friendly pitch. However, they allowed the West Indies to recover from 54/8 to post 163 in the first innings. Pakistan was bowled out for 154 and 133 in their two innings, with Jomel Warrican taking 4/43 and 5/27.

The Operation That India Has Done, We Also Need to Do That - Basit Ali

In a video shared on his YouTube channel, Basit Ali urged Pakistan to adopt the new BCCI guidelines, particularly focusing on domestic cricket. He attributed 50% of the defeat to the bowlers, 30% to captaincy issues, and 20% to the batting performance. He criticized Shan Masood for poor field placements.

"The operation that India has done (domestic cricket) we also need to do that. When you win, everything is right. This Test match was lost because of the bowlers and not batters. The bowlers are 50% responsible for the loss, 30% captaincy and 20% batting. The captain who does not know field placement will be zero only. He is doing county captaincy," Basit stated.

The BCCI recently introduced new guidelines after India's 3-1 loss in the Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 series in Australia. One of the key measures required players to participate in domestic matches. Following this, several prominent players made their return to the Ranji Trophy 2024-25 season.

They Have Won, Not Leveled - Basit Ali

Basit Ali criticized Pakistan's performance in their recent Test series against the West Indies. While others may say the series is drawn, Basit said that the West Indies had won with a young or second-string team.

"West Indies came to Pakistan after 19 years and won and went. They have won and not leveled. If someone says it is 1-1, it is not right. A young team, B team, C team, whatever you call it, they leveled and went. Have some shame. It is disappointing that they do not know how to play. Do not tell that there is difference in bowling in the second innings and the fourth innings. West Indies bowled well," he reckoned.

Pakistan Shifts Focus to White-Ball Cricket

West Indies batted first and scored 163, while Pakistan added 154 in their first innings. West Indies captain Kraigg Brathwaite contributed with a fifty, helping his team set a target of 254. Pakistan was bowled out for 133 in their final innings, marking their first home Test defeat to West Indies in 34 years.

Jomel Warrican, who took 19 wickets, was named Player of the Series. Pakistan had recently won a home series against England 2-1 but has now lost 10 of their last 13 Tests. Pakistan will prepare for the upcoming tri-series against New Zealand and South Africa, ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy.

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