Former Pakistan cricketer Basit Ali has issued a strong call for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to prioritize red-ball cricket in order to build a more solid foundation for the national team. Ali’s plea comes in the wake of a series of disappointing performances, most recently a disheartening 10-wicket defeat to Bangladesh in the first Test at Rawalpindi.
Ali criticized the PCB’s decision to hold a One-Day Champions Cup immediately after the Test series, arguing that this strategy detracts from the development of fundamental skills and weakens the cricketing base in Pakistan. He pointed out that the current strategy of emulating the cricketing systems of Australia, New Zealand, and England is not effective for Pakistan. Instead, he urged the PCB to look towards their neighbors, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as a model for success.
“There will be a One-Day tournament called the Champions Cup after the Test series. Pakistan has copied the systems of England, Australia, and New Zealand. India is right next to us; please copy their system too. You need intelligence in copying as well. Just copy what India is doing,” Ali stated on his YouTube channel.
He further emphasized the importance of red-ball cricket by highlighting India’s Duleep Trophy, a four-day tournament designed to strengthen its players’ foundations. “The Duleep Trophy is about to begin. Is it a T20 or One-Day tournament? It’s a four-day tournament. They focused on making their base stronger, which is why they are so successful,” Ali added.
Basit Ali’s comments underscore the crucial role of Test cricket in achieving long-term success for any cricketing nation. His call for reform suggests that Pakistan should nurture red-ball talent by adopting a model similar to the BCCI, which has demonstrably produced successful results for Indian cricket in recent years.
