The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on August 26 (Friday) named Hasan Ali as the replacement for injured Mohammad Wasim Jr for the Asia Cup 2022, which is scheduled to start tomorrow (August 27). Wasim Jnr had sustained a left side strain while bowling in Pakistan’s practice session on Wednesday. Hasan Ali, who has been struggling to attain his best form, has been recalled to the side.
“Hasan Ali was sought as a replacement player by the team management and the request was accepted by the chief selector. Hasan had been working on his bowling in the National High Performance Centre for the past three weeks and is presently in Rawalpindi, preparing for the National T20, which commences on 30 August,” the PCB said in a statement.
This comes as a huge blow to Pakistan as Wasim Jnr was in top form in their recently-concluded series against the Netherlands. The 21-year-old right-arm pacer bagged six wickets in three matches against Holland at a good economy rate of 4.87. Wasim has been ruled out of the tournament and the PCB will reassess his fitness before Pakistan's seven-match T20I series against England in September.
“The medical team will closely monitor Wasim’s rehabilitation and his return to competitive cricket will be reassessed before the England tour to Pakistan,” the statement said.
Hasan Ali has a lot of experience in playing in crunch tournaments. He was once the leading paceman in Pakistan's attack but after suffering a dip in form, the right-arm pacer was sidelined. He was not part of Pakistan's squad that played the three-match series against the Netherlands. Ali has so far played 49 T20Is for the Men in Green, picking 60 wickets in the shortest format of the game.
Meanwhile, this is the second injury setback for Pakistan before the Asia Cup. Earlier, Shaheen Afridi was ruled out of the tournament owing to an injury and Muhammad Hasnain was named as his replacement.
The Men in Green will start their Asia Cup campaign against arch-rivals India on August 28 (Sunday).
