No compromise on merit, discipline: Basit

KCCA selector vows fair selection for youngsters.

KARACHI: Former Test cricketer Basit Ali, who agreed to continue as Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) selector, said he will not compromise on merit and only deserving players will get the nod in teams during his presence in the selection committee.

Basit, who quit international cricket in acrimonious circumstances on a tour of Zimbabwe, handed in his resignation from the selection committee headed by former fast-bowler Jalauddin and also includes former first-class cricketer Zafar Ahmed. He, however, agreed to take back his resignation after being convinced by the KCCA President Sirajul Islam Bukhari.

“I never compromised on selection matters and would continue the practice,” Basit told The Express Tribune. “I had no option left when the KCCA president forced me and asked me to reverse my decision in the best interest of the city’s cricket.

“The zonal officials were calling me a dictator but I took all decisions in the best interest of the Karachi teams. Nobody can point a single player whom I selected without merit. One thing I should make clear, as long I am a part of selection committee there will be no compromise.”

He said his main aim is to select the best players from Karachi for which he was running from pillar to post. “I want to give the best players from Karachi to the country for which I even brought sponsors for local tournaments which never happened in history.”

The former Test cricketer, however said he had no issues with other selection committee members with whom he was looking forward to work.

Meanwhile, the KCCA president praised Basit for reversing his decision. “He is a hardworking selector and we could not afford to lose him. We have removed all his concerns and hopefully he would carry on for a longtime.”

Published in The Express Tribune, December 14^th, 2010.