DUBAI: Pacer Hasan Ali came in after the fast bowler Mohammad Wasim Junior has been ruled out of the ACC T20 Asia Cup due to a side strain. He had picked up the injury while bowling in Pakistan’s practice session on Wednesday.
The bowler was assessed by the team medical staff, and MRI scan in Dubai confirmed the diagnosis, according to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) media statement.
The findings were discussed with the PCB Medical Advisory Committee, while an independent review by a specialist physiotherapist was also sought. The medical team will closely monitor Wasim’s rehabilitation and his return to competitive cricket will be reassessed before the England tour to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Hasan Ali, has been named as Wasim’s replacement, which is subject to the Event Technical Committee’s approval. Hasan Ali was sought as a replacement player by the team management and the request was accepted by the chief selector.
Hasan Ali 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. As soon as the ETC approves Hasan as a replacement player, the bowler will depart for the UAE.
Wasim had complained of back pain while bowling in a net session at the ICC Academy in Dubai on Thursday, and was taken for an MRI scan shortly afterwards.
In the PCB’s update on Friday, it has emerged that he had suffered a side strain. He has also been reviewed by a specialist. The team’s main physiotherapist, Cliffe Deacon, is working with Shaheen Shah Afridi, who has been ruled out of the Asia Cup because of a knee injury but is travelling with the team, ESPNcricinfo reported.
Hasan Ali was dropped from Pakistan’s squad for the ODI series in the Netherlands as well as for the Asia Cup following a poor run of form with the ball.
Hasan’s form across formats in the last year has been middling at best. He has picked up eight wickets in eight T20Is in this period.
In the three ODIs he has played in the last 12 months – all at home between March and June this year – he averaged 76.50 with the ball, picking up two wickets.
Earlier this year, in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), he had a bowling average of 40.55 and had an economy rate of 10.84 as he got nine wickets in nine games for Islamabad United.
In a bid to regain his form, Hasan had been preparing for the National T20, starting on August 30. He was named Southern Punjab captain, having moved away from his regular team, Central Punjab. He had been at the PCB’s high-performance centre in Lahore training after being dropped.