Ganesh Kendale
Captain of Pakistan Shaheens (A team), Mohammad Haris, made headlines for his revelation that the team is not allowed to talk about India in the dressing room during the Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup in Oman; and he has expectedly received rebuke for his comment.
Talking briefly abt Haris’s statement, former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali reacted sharply in a video on his YouTube channel.
“Usko akal nahi hai, kya bolna hai kya nahi bolna (he has no sense, what to speak and what not). If somebody thinks the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board) has given those instructions, then that is wrong,” said the 53-year-old Basit.
In his interaction with the media ahead of the group match against Tilak Varma-led India A on October 19, the Pakistan A skipper had revealed that the players are not allowed to discuss the Indian team in the dressing room.
“Aapko ek baat batau. Pehli dafa hoga ke iss dressing room mei Bharat par baat karne pe pabandi hai (I will tell you one thing; it’s the first time ever that we are not allowed to talk about India in the dressing room),” Haris said in a video that has gone viral on social media,” Haris said.
Haris has also played for the senior Pakistan team in 6 ODIs and 9 T20Is. He said that the ban on India talks is a way to avoid putting unnecessary pressure on the players.
“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, played 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,” he said.
“So this team is currently banned (from talking about India). We have not talked about India so far in the dressing room…We have to respect other teams as well”.
