Pakistan Cricket Legend Basit Ali Condemns On-Field Incident in Asia Cup
Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has expressed his dismay over an unsavory incident involving Pakistan A’s Sufiyan Muqeem and India A’s Abhishek Sharma during the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup 2024.
In a video posted on his YouTube channel, Ali criticized Muqeem’s behavior, emphasizing the importance of sportsmanship and respect for opponents, especially among young cricketers.
“The cricket was top-notch, but one thing that really upset me was the incident involving Sufiyan Muqeem and Abhishek Sharma,” Ali said. “If I were sitting in the dugout or the team manager, I would have told Sufiyan, ‘Son, pick up your things and go back.’ You haven’t even played proper cricket for Pakistan yet, and you’re already using abusive language—what kind of behavior is this?”
Ali referred to Muqeem’s send-off gesture after dismissing Sharma, adding, “You’re hurling abuses—did you take a hat-trick or something? You’re not at that level yet. The management needs to teach young players how to respect the opposition.”
The incident occurred during a tense clash between India A and Pakistan A at Al Amerat. Sharma had gotten off to a flying start, scoring 35 off 22 balls, but his innings ended when he mistimed a shot off Muqeem’s bowling.
After the dismissal, Muqeem made a “silence gesture” toward Sharma, which infuriated the Indian opener, leading to a heated exchange. Umpires had to intervene to restore order.
Despite the tension, India A held their nerve to secure a narrow 7-run win, posting 183/8 and restricting Pakistan A to 176/7.
Ali’s comments highlight the importance of maintaining a high standard of conduct on the field, especially for young players who are still developing their skills and character. Sportsmanship and respect for opponents are essential values that should be instilled in all cricketers.
