Former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali on Sunday named Brian Lara as the best batsman in the world, just a day after Australian paceman Glenn McGrath rated the West Indies legend a rung higher than Sachin Tendulkar.

Basit, a minefield of unrealised talent, had little doubt that Lara deserved the highest pedestal among contemporary batsmen.

"He [Lara] is above Sachin Tendulkar and Ricky Ponting. He is right up there. His consistency and penchant for big scores is phenomenal and unmatched by anyone," said Basit, who bid adieu to the game in 1996 when he was just 26