Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on August 22 (Monday) announced Mohammad Hasnain as injured Shaheen Afridi's replacement for the upcoming Asia Cup 2022. The 22-year-old Hasnain, who is currently representing the Oval Invincibles in The Hundred, has played 26 international matches for Pakistan. He has featured in eight ODIs and 18 T20Is for the Men in Green in his young career so far.
Pakistan's Asia Cup bid suffered a major blow when ace pacer Afridi was ruled out of the competition due to a right knee ligament injury. The left-arm pacer will also miss Pakistan's seven-match T20 series against England at home owing to the injury.
Hasnain was recently in the news after Australian all-rounder Marcus Stoinis on August 14 (Sunday) accused Pakistan's international fast-bowler of an illegal action. The incident took place during The Hundred's match between Southern Brave and Oval Invincibles when the Aussie batter was dismissed by Hasnain.
The 32-year-old tried to send Hasnain's delivery over the fence but ended up handing a simple catch to Will Jacks at mid-off. As Stoinis started to make his way back to the pavilion, the all-rounder mimicked a chucking motion, thus accusing the Pakistan paceman of having an illegal bowling action.
The 22-year-old Pakistan paceman has had a fair share of problems with his bowling action in what has been a nascent career so far. Earlier in the year, a Big Bash League (BBL) umpire reported Hasnain after the game between Sydney Thunder and Adelaide Strikers.
Meanwhile, Pakistan will begin their Asia Cup campaign on August 28 against arch-rivals India.
Pakistan squad for Asia Cup: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.
