In a week dominated by squad announcements and debates over fresh faces, one name’s absence has left many scratching their heads, i.e., Hasan Ali.
Among those voicing surprise is Sohaib Maqsood, the seasoned Pakistan batter, who has openly questioned the exclusion of the in-form pacer from the upcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh.
Backing the New Blood, But Still Puzzled
Maqsood, never shy to speak his mind, took to X (formerly Twitter) to support the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) decision to inject fresh talent into the squad. However, he was quick to single out Hasan Ali’s omission as an eyebrow-raiser.
“I’m totally in favour of the changes made for the Bangladesh tour. Earlier, we used to complain that no one gets a chance, so how would we build bench strength?” Maqsood posted.
“Now that different new players are getting opportunities, suddenly everyone has issues. Only Hasan Ali’s exclusion is surprising; he made a comeback after a long time, had a great series, and now he’s been rested again.”
Hasan Ali’s Hot Streak in England
The puzzlement surrounding Hasan’s exclusion is understandable. The right-arm pacer is currently lighting up the Vitality Blast in England, representing Birmingham Bears.
His numbers speak for themselves:
- 21 wickets in just 9 games
- An impressive bowling average of 13.38
- Currently third on the list of leading wicket-takers
With stats like that, it’s hard to argue against his case.
Pakistan’s New-Look Squad for Bangladesh
To be fair, the selectors have opted for a largely experimental squad, perhaps with an eye on long-term planning. Salman Ali Agha leads the side in the absence of key seniors, including Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Afridi, and the injured duo Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf.
Here’s a look at the 15-man squad: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufiyan Moqim
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