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Warwickshire County Cricket Club (CCC) has been left disappointed by the surprise inclusion of pacer Hasan Ali in Pakistan’s squad for the ongoing T20I series against Bangladesh.
The 30-year-old, who was expected to rejoin Warwickshire later this month for their T20 Blast campaign, made a return from injury during the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10.
His 17 wickets in 10 matches for Karachi Kings not only signalled a strong comeback but also earned him a national recall, one that has disrupted Warwickshire’s pre-season plans.
Warwickshire’s Chief Executive, Stuart Cain, didn’t hold back his frustration, stating the club was under the impression that Hasan would not be featuring for Pakistan this summer.
“The Hasan Ali situation is very frustrating. We believed we had assurances he would not be involved with the Pakistan side this summer,” Cain said.
He also touched on the growing challenge of securing overseas players for extended county stints, citing packed international calendars and the financial lure of global T20 leagues.
“It’s very hard to find players that will both improve the squad and be available for the majority of the summer. In years gone by, it was much easier to get quality overseas players for an entire season, and for season after season,” he added.
Hasan, who first joined Warwickshire in 2023, made an instant impact, picking up 24 wickets in the first half of the County Championship.
But recurring injuries and national duties have restricted his availability in the T20 Blast over the past two seasons.
Warwickshire Head Coach Ian Westwood, speaking to a local news channel, expressed hope that Hasan would bring his PSL form into the Blast once he links up with the squad in June.
“He’s a Bear, he loves it here, and he’s a quality performer in all formats,” Westwood said.
“He did well in the Championship previously, and we know his quality in T20s — both with the new ball and at the death. We’re looking forward to him joining us again.”
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