Netizens slammed Basit Ali promptly.
When it is India, Pakistan, a good conspiracy theory always spices up things. Be it war or cricket, it is pretty much the same. Also very often jingoism and blind hatred for each other blurr people's vision about what is truth and what may be extremely far-fetched.
Something similar happened with former Pakistani player Basit Ali who had a moment of brain fade when he claimed that India will intentionally lose matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh to deny Pakistan a place in the top four.
For the uninitiated, Pakistan's chances of reaching the top four currently hang by a thread. They not only have to win all their remaining matches, they have to hope that England lose both their matches and India win against England, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka apart from some other results going their way. So all in one, it is still an uphill task for Pakistan to make it to the top four. However, that hasn't stopped conspiracy theorists like Basit Ali to spin his own tale of how somehow India is to be blamed for their ultimate possible non-progression to the next round.
Basit Ali, an average batter player 19 test and 50 ODIs for Pakistan between 1993 and 1996.
India is currently on nine points after 5 matches. They are the only team which is still unbeaten in the tournament. India's match against New Zealand was rained out. Team India had a smooth run against big teams like Australia, South Africa and Pakistan before surviving a scare against Afghanistan.
Indian batting failed to fire except Virat Kohli and it was left to the brilliance of Bumrah and Shahmi to save the day against less fancied Afghanistan. Basit Ali also repeatedly referred to the match and insinuated that there was something fisjy with the way India stumbled on Saturday.
1. Here's the clip of the controversial claim
Basit Ali reckons India will not want Pakistan to qualify for the semi-finals and may play poorly in their matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh #CWC19 pic.twitter.com/vwg3oFnnpl
— Saj Sadiq (@Saj_PakPassion) June 26, 2019
2. Pakistan keep campaign alive
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Pakistan won against New Zealand to keep their campaign on track. In a tricky pitch, Babar Azam's classy knock ensured Pakistan comfortably win the match after New Zealand revived post-top-order collapse.
In the clip, where Basit Ali was speculating about the match, he said that India will never want Paksitan and is likely to lose against relative lightweights Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. When the anchor pressed him on the fact that isn't cricket a game of glorious uncertainties where lesser fancied teams can win, Basit Ali who played for four seasons for Pakistan clamped him down saying nothing of that sorts happen in reality.
He refused to see reason despite the very obvious logical flaws in his argument and to prove his point, pointed out at the close encounter between India and Afghanistan.
3. How Twiiter reacted to Basit Ali's allegations
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Yeh wala Nasha kerna hy
— QaMaR ZiA aHmAad (@awaratobe) June 26, 2019
yaar is basit Ali ko har match me koina koin match fixing hi nazar aati shayed iske kafi close relation rahe hoge booki me sath #PAKvNZ #NZvSA
— bhushan (@bhushan_7) June 26, 2019
I think these guys are gone crazy for sure, how on earth will they want to face New Zealand or Australia rather than Pakistan in the semis, that too when all their momentum is gone
— Shahzad Farooq (@Shahzad91395611) June 26, 2019
Kitne samjhdaar cricket experts h apke mulk mbs yhi suna baaki reh gya th
— Gaurav Tiwary (@GAURAVTIWARY20) June 26, 2019
Bhai sahi baat haiApne paas Manjrekar hai, tumhare paas ye log
— Apratim (@apratimtweets) June 26, 2019
Manjrekar v kvi aaj tak ye nhi bola ki ye team jaan buch kar haar gyi
— Gaurav Tiwary (@GAURAVTIWARY20) June 26, 2019
— Lipsa Sharma (@Shristiiiiiiiii) June 26, 2019
