Basit Ali Demands Removal of Coach Mike Hesson After Asia Cup Defeat

Former cricketer Basit Ali has strongly demanded the immediate removal of Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, after Pakistan’s poor performance in the Asia Cup 2025. According to him, the team’s failure, especially in the final against India, was the direct result of weak planning and poor decision-making by the foreign coach.

Speaking during a special transmission on ARY News, Basit Ali did not hold back his criticism. He said, “Pakistan lost the Asia Cup final to India only because of Mike Hesson’s poor planning. I request Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to remove the foreign coach and instead appoint a local coach who truly understands and feels for the country.” His comments reflect a growing sentiment that a local coach may be better equipped to handle the pressure and connect with the players.

The former batsman also raised serious concerns about Pakistan’s preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. He highlighted that the team has been struggling to beat top-tier opponents and lacks the confidence and strategy needed to compete at the international level. Basit Ali suggested that the root of the problem lies in leadership and management.

Turning his attention to the captaincy, Basit Ali expressed disappointment in Salman Ali Agha’s leadership. He described the current skipper as “a yes-man” who simply follows instructions without taking bold or decisive actions on the field. According to Basit, such a mindset is damaging the team’s fighting spirit and costing Pakistan crucial matches.

He further criticized the team management’s tactics, questioning why players like Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Nawaz were not given the ball to bowl during key moments of the match. He argued that such decisions showed a lack of game awareness and poor judgment from those in charge.

Another major point raised by Basit Ali was regarding Pakistan’s star pacer, Shaheen Shah Afridi. He alleged that Shaheen has been treated unfairly under the current leadership setup and that his removal from captaincy was unjust. Basit urged PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi to take bold and immediate decisions to bring balance back into the team and to win back the trust of the cricket-loving public.

“Shaheen Afridi was removed from captaincy without a fair reason. He deserves to be reinstated as Pakistan’s captain. His leadership and passion can guide the team in the right direction,” Basit Ali insisted.

With these strong statements, Basit Ali has once again sparked a debate about whether Pakistan should rely on foreign coaches or trust local experts who understand the culture, mindset, and emotions of the national players. His remarks come at a time when fans are already frustrated with the team’s inconsistent performances and are looking for major changes before the World Cup.

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