Basit Ali, a former cricketer from Pakistan holds the view that the players from Australia are indulging in ‘mind games’ ahead of the important Border Gavaskar trophy tournament against India. The excitement phase is getting intensified in regard to the matches between India and Australia as re-scheduled series in November is close to its start. Recently while speaking with the media Rishabh Pant was chosen as a potential threat to captain Rohit Sharma, ace batsman Virat Kohli and ‘national asset’ Jasprit Bumrah by none other than Australia Test captain Pat Cummins.
“Such a player is very impactful in a number of series and therefore we have to make sure that he is kept under wraps,” Cummins remarked during an interview with Star Sports.
Ali Basit’s assertion is simply that Australia is indulging in psychological warfare and that Madhav and other experienced members of the Indian cricket squad will naturally be in their crosshairs.
“Right now, they are playing mind games. I am certain Australia is not fearless of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Rohit Sharma, and Virat Kohli, close the doors. Everyone is scared of Pant. The one who is doing this, they are doing this. They targeted Pant. This is how things are. They are acting as if something else is happening while thinking otherwise. That is what the mindset is,’ mentioned Basit in a YouTube video.
Just last week, the 53-year-old crank up about Nathan Lyon seething the former Australia leg spinner saying that he went too far about the BGT result.
Speaking on Willow Talk with some former cricketers, Lyon was forecasting a ‘5-0 series win over India in the next tour’.
He waged a war of words with Lyon asserting that such comments are inappropriate from a cricketer. He even went on to add and asked experienced Indian spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to retort back to Lyon’s remark.
“Firstly, I do not want to rehash Nathan Lyon’s ridiculous assertion about Australia winning India 6 test series games to nil, it is rather understood. India has beaten Australia comprehensively in the last two series. Such remarks are unbecoming of cricketers. Only people such as Ricky Ponting and other retired cricketers can make such utterances. I would urge Ashwin to retaliate with a claim that this time India shall clean sweep Australia 5-0,” Basit said last week.
Described activity being covered is a Test series match India is playing with Bangladesh. Meanwhile, Australia is involved in playing a five-game one-day international series with England, their bitter rivals.
