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Former Pakistani cricketer Basit Ali referred to seasoned spinner Nathan Lyon’s prediction that Australia would defeat India 5-0 in the forthcoming Border Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) series as “stupid”. In response to a query from former Australian cricketer Brad Haddin on the Willow Talk podcast on Tuesday, Lyon stated, “My prediction is 5-0 to Australia.” Lyon came under fire from Basit, who said that a cricket player shouldn’t make such comments. He went so far as to ask Ravichandran Ashwin to respond to Lyon’s remark.
“I will only say one thing about Nathan Lyon’s stupid statement that Australia will defeat India by six Tests, but only by words. In the past two series, India have dominated Australia. Such comments don’t suit cricketers. Ricky Ponting or former cricketers can make such statements. I request Ashwin to reply back and say that India will defeat Australia by 5-0,” Basit said on YouTube.
Despite the BGT series taking place in November, players have already begun to show their excitement for the much-anticipated match.
While Travis Head, a fellow countryman, recently stated that the Rohit Sharma-led team is “extremely difficult” to play against, Lyon thinks Australia can easily win the series.
Head claimed in an interview with Star Sports that he doesn’t “feel” India is his preference since the Australians had faced them too often. The 30-year-old continued, saying he was glad to help the club and that he had been in good shape for the past few years.
“I don’t feel like they’re my favourite. I just feel like we play them enough, play them lots. And, I guess, the last couple of years, I’ve been in nice form. So yeah, being able to play well, it’s always nice. It’s not hard to get up for the contest. It’s hugely competitive. Yeah, it’s easier to get up for the game. So I wouldn’t say they’re my favourites,” Head said.
“They’re extremely difficult, but it’s been nice to play well in a couple of games, and I’m looking forward to preparing well and being ready to go, and hopefully, I can contribute to what’s a successful summer for us,” he added.