Former cricketer Basit Ali has expressed strong disapproval of Pakistan Shaheens captain Mohammad Haris following his controversial remarks about discussing India in the team dressing room during the Men's T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman. Haris's comments, made in a viral video, have sparked a significant backlash from fans and former players alike.
In the video, which surfaced on social media before the highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan, Haris stated, "I will tell you one thing; for the first time ever, we are not allowed to talk about India in the dressing room."
He further elaborated that focusing solely on India could create mental pressure, stating, "We don't have to think [only] about India. We have to think about other teams as well. I have been in the [senior] Pakistan team and played in the last World Cup as well. It creates so much pressure that mentally, you are thinking about India, India. We have to face other teams as well."
Haris's remarks have elicited mixed reactions, with many criticizing him for his comments. Basit Ali, in particular, has taken issue with Haris's statement, suggesting that he lacks the judgment to understand the implications of his words.
"He has no sense of what to speak and what not to. If somebody thinks the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has given those instructions, then that is wrong," Basit stated on his YouTube channel.
The upcoming match between India A and Pakistan A is set to take place on Saturday at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Oman. Both teams are looking to make a strong impression in the tournament, which is critical for emerging players.
Squads:
Pakistan A: Mohammad Haris (captain), Abdul Samad, Ahmed Daniyal, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Haseebullah, Mehran Mumtaz, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Omair Bin Yousuf, Qasim Akram, Shahnawaz Dahani, Sufiyan Moqim, Yasir Khan, and Zaman Khan.
India A: Tilak Varma (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Ayush Badoni, Nishant Sindhu, Ramandeep Singh, Anuj Rawat, Prabhsimran Singh, Nehal Wadhera, Anshul Kamboj, Hrithik Shokeen, Aaqib Khan, Vaibhav Arora, Rasikh Salam, Sai Kishore, and Rahul Chahar.