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Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali recently expressed his discontent with Pakistan’s new head coach, Jason Gillespie, ahead of their upcoming home Test series against Bangladesh. Ali, known for his blunt remarks, took a dig at the team’s management, particularly targeting Gillespie’s decision not to appoint a dedicated batting coach for the series.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Basit sarcastically suggested that Babar Azam should be named the team’s batting coach as well, given his immense influence on Pakistan’s batting. He mentioned that Gillespie, who previously had an impressive coaching stint with Yorkshire and Adelaide, is focused primarily on bowling tactics, leaving a gap in batting guidance.
“The opposition is like a team of kids,” Basit remarked, referring to Bangladesh. “Do Pakistan have the courage to prepare a pitch like this (grass) against England? There was no need for a batting coach with Gary Kirsten at the helm, right? So, now with Jason Gillespie, why do we need a separate bowling coach? Who is going to tell them about batting? Only Babar Azam is left. Make Babar the batting coach as well then.”
This statement highlights Basit’s belief that Babar Azam is the only player capable of guiding Pakistan‘s batting unit. He criticized the management’s reliance on a bowler-focused coach without supplementing it with a proper batting coach.
Gillespie’s First Test Series with Pakistan
The two-match Test series against Bangladesh marks Jason Gillespie’s debut as Pakistan’s red-ball head coach. Both matches will be held in Rawalpindi, with the first game set to begin on Wednesday, August 21. Gillespie, a former Australian fast bowler, was hired with hopes of revitalizing Pakistan’s Test performance, but his approach has drawn criticism even before his first assignment.
Concerns Over Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy (NCA)
Basit Ali didn’t stop at the Test series, also criticizing Gillespie’s choice for the coach of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy (NCA). Ali accused the coach brought in from Adelaide of lacking fundamental knowledge about cricket drills. He questioned whether the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials were aware of this issue, saying, “Are the PCB officials sleeping? The NCA coach doesn’t even know how to do drills properly. He was previously removed from Adelaide.”
Basit’s comments reflect his frustration with the current state of Pakistan cricket management. He believes that the NCA, a critical part of nurturing young talent, is not being handled efficiently and that Gillespie’s influence is not helping matters.
As Pakistan prepares for the Test series against Bangladesh, these concerns from a former cricketer put added pressure on Gillespie and the PCB to prove that their decisions can translate into success on the field.
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