LAHORE: Pakistan’s white-ball captain Babar Azam on Monday opened up about the selection of pace bowler Hasan Ali in the national squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England.
During the team’s pre-departure press conference, Azam responded to the criticism over the pacer’s inclusion in the team and defended the decision, stating that Hasan Ali was only selected as a backup for Haris Rauf.
“I have been hearing for quite some time that why is he [Hassan Ali] back? Selectors have also made it clear that he is there as a backup [for Haris Rauf],” Azam remarked.
“It is not that he is part of the 15-member squad [for World Cup]. We need to understand that he is a backup because of his experience,” he added.
He also stressed that the experienced pacer was recalled through a unanimous decision by the selection committee, comprising seven members.
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“It is not because of just one person that he [Hasan] is selected. There are seven selectors who selected him,” he concluded.
Notably, one of the selectors Wahab Riaz, also voiced the same opinion as Babar Azam while responding to a question regarding the selection of Hasan Ali.
“Hasan Ali was already in our plans for T20 World Cup 2024. He is a backup of Haris Rauf and we have communicated that to Hasan Ali,” said Riaz during a press conference.
“If Haris gets fit before the England series then he will be our first choice. If we feel Haris Rauf is not fit then Hasan Ali will replace him.”
Notably, Hasan Ali played the last of his 50 T20I matches against Sri Lanka in the Asia Cup 2022.
Pakistan squad for Ireland and England T20Is
Babar Azam (c), Abrar Ahmed, Azam Khan, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imad Wasim, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Rizwan, Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Agha, Shadab Khan, Shaheen Afridi, Usman Khan.