Pakistan Cricket in Crisis: Basit Ali Blasts PCB for Kirsten’s Departure
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has launched a scathing attack on the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) following the abrupt resignation of Gary Kirsten as the team’s limited-overs coach. Ali, in a fiery rant on his YouTube channel, expressed his deep concern over the deteriorating state of Pakistan cricket.
“Pakistan’s cricket is going down, and I don’t want it to go down. In the coming days, it will get worse,” Ali lamented. He criticized the PCB for its haphazard approach to hiring foreign coaches, arguing that they should first be tested at the junior levels.
Ali drew comparisons to Australia and India, where coaches like Rodney Marsh and Rahul Dravid had worked with grassroots programs before taking on senior roles. “They’ve made a joke out of Pakistan,” Ali said, hinting at internal interference in cricketing decisions.
Ali mocked Kirsten’s reported reservations about player selection, saying, “Now Gary Kirsten is acting innocent, saying, ‘I won’t accept it without Babar Azam.’ So you don’t want Rizwan as captain, and you don’t want Shaheen Afridi—is this Pakistan’s team or Gary Kirsten’s team?”
He further questioned Kirsten’s commitment to Pakistan cricket, saying, “Next, he’ll say, ‘My academy is running in Cape Town,’ and then join some IPL or PSL franchise. Why do you even give opportunities to people like this who can’t spend their time in Pakistan?”
Kirsten, who coached India to the 2011 World Cup win, was appointed by the PCB on a two-year contract in April. However, his tenure lasted just six months, with tensions reportedly brewing between the PCB and the coaching staff.
The PCB’s decision to strip Kirsten and Gillespie of their voting rights in team selection earlier this month fueled speculation of internal disagreements. The PCB has confirmed Kirsten’s resignation and announced that Jason Gillespie, Pakistan’s Test coach, will step in for the upcoming white-ball tour of Australia.
Ali’s outburst reflects the growing frustration among Pakistani cricket fans and experts over the team’s recent struggles. Pakistan has failed to win a major ICC tournament since 2017 and has been plagued by inconsistent performances and off-field controversies.
