Pakistan's out-of-favour pacer Hasan Ali has accused Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of giving 'VVIP treatment' to young opener Saim Ayub who was ruled out of ICC Champions Trophy 2025 due to ankle injury. Ali who has had his fare share of injuries is unhappy that PCB did not give him any special treatment when he was injured.
"Saim Ayub is injured. He is the player of your team. Wasn't I a member of the team in 2020? If another player gets injured, won't he be a member of the team? Does he play for India?" Ali said on a YouTube podcast 'Ultra Edge'.
"You're giving VVIP Treatment to Saim Ayub. If someone gets injured in the future, would you give him the same treatment? No, you won't. So, what have you done here?" the 'Player of the series' of Champions Trophy 2017 added.
Hasan hoped that Ayub recovers from the injury but predicted that if the youngster gets injured again, he won't get the same treatment he is getting now.
"May God give him health and fitness, and may he win a lot of matches for Pakistan. But every rise has a fall. If Saim Ayub gets injured again, will they treat him the same? No, they won't," said the 30-year-old.
Ayub was an integral part of Pakistan's plans for Champions Trophy 2025. He has already scored 515 runs from nine ODI innings including three centuries and one fifty. His strike rate is an impressive 105.53. In his absence, veteran Fakhar Zaman has been given a chance and Babar Azam given a promotion up the order.
Hasan Ali on sidelines
The Gujranwala-born pacer has not played a single ODI since the ODI World Cup 2023 in India. In his last ODI appearance, he conceded 82 runs from his quota of 10 overs against New Zealand. He made his comeback to the Test squad for Australia tour but did was dropped later.
In the previous edition of Champions Trophy, he was the highest wicket-taker. He claimed 13 wickets from five games at an average of 14.69. In the final against India, he claimed three wickets for just 19 runs.