MURIDKE: With just 10 days left before the ICC Women’s World Cup starts in India, he may have joined the Pakistan women cricket team as batting coach slightly late but former Test batsman Basit Ali is hoping to be able to contribute a lot to the side during this time.

“As coach, my job is to tell them what to do and it is up to them to implement the advice in the best way that they can,” he told Dawn here on the first day of his training session with the girls on Sunday.

“I came here after doing my research on the pitches in Cuttack. They have slow tracks where the ball spins and our bowlers will be more effective there, so the change in venue just might turn out to be a blessing in disguise for us,” Basit, who is also the coach of the Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) which won the inaugural President’s Trophy title in Karachi last Friday, said.

“I am also glad to see that the girls have been well prepared by head coach Mohtashim Rasheed and deputy coach Tahir Mahmood. We go a long way back. I have known them since we were all under-19 players. It will be a pleasure joining forces with them for the betterment of the Pakistan women team,” he added.

“I know the playing styles of the senior girls like captain Sana Mir, vice-captain Bismah Maroof, Nain Abidi but there is so much more fresh talent in the side that I will be helping in the coming few days.

“I also take this opportunity to mention how much we appreciate Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Zaka Ashraf’s initiative in unearthing new talent, especially in women’s cricket.

“He has sent out letters to all departments to set up their own women wings, which should also include women’s U-19 teams. This will in turn serve as nurseries for upcoming talent from all regions. When the girls get incentives, they would obviously want to try for the teams and thus your talent pool will never dry out,” he pointed out.

Basit, for now, has been brought into the squad as batting coach for the duration of the Women’s World Cup.