Hasan Ali starts trending after being named in Pakistan squad for NZ Tests

Right-arm pacer Hasan Ali has returned to Pakistan’s 16-player squad for the New Zealand Test and his name started trending on social media after being named in the team.

Pakistan squad unveiled

Pakistan have named an uncapped middle-order batter Kamran Ghulam and fast bowler Hasan Ali in the 16-player squad for the two-Test series against New Zealand, which will commence at Karachi’s National Bank Cricket Arena on Monday, 26 December.

Kamran has replaced Azhar Ali, who announced his retirement last week, while Hasan Ali has taken over from Mohammad Ali, who, like Faheem Ashraf, has been advised to participate in the ongoing Pakistan Cup in Karachi, according to a PCB press release.

Haris Rauf has not been included in the squad as he is recovering from an injury he sustained while fielding in the Rawalpindi Test. However, fast bowler Naseem Shah, who missed the Multan and Karachi Tests due to a shoulder niggle, has been being declared fit and as such, retained in the squad.

Test squad:

Babar Azam (captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Noman Ali, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shan Masood and Zahid Mehmood

Poor performance and criticism

Hasan Ali has been facing a lot of criticism for a long time due to his poor performance after he dropped catch of Matthew Wade in a tense semi-final of the T20 World Cup last year in the UAE. The drop proved costly as Pakistan went onto lose that game and Australia eventually went onto win the T20 World Cup.

However, his bad performance was much discussed everywhere as he failed to exhibited any crucial bowling spell in other matches.

Critics take on Ali

After the announcement of Pakistan’s Test squad, critics diverted the attention to Hasan Ali from slamming Babar Azam after Pakistan faced humiliating 3-0 defeat against English in Test series at home grounds. Even many circles are now demanding the return of wicket keeper and former skipper Sarfraz Ahmed as the captain of the Test squad.

Sports Achor of Samaa TV Sawera Pasha wrote on Twitter, “Hasan Ali 14 wickets – 6 games @ 40 (PICKED). Mir Hamza 16 wickets – 4 games @ 24 (IGNORED).”

She also criticised the selection of Kamran Ghulam just to compensate the injustice he had faced earlier despite he is at #16 this season. Pasha added, “Huraira & Usman Salauhddin missed out despite being in Top # 5 this year.”

Hasan Ali 14 wickets – 6 games @ 40 (PICKED)
Mir Hamza 16 wickets – 4 games @ 24 (IGNORED)

Kamran Ghulam kay saath hui ziyati ko justify karney kay liye pick karliya when he is at # 16 this season.

Huraira & Usman Salauhddin missed out despite being in Top # 5 this year. pic.twitter.com/w9rIJyeeSi

— Sawera Pasha (@sawerapasha) December 21, 2022

Adeel Azhar said, “Hasan Ali had 14 wickets in 6 FC matches in the Quaid e Azam trophy this season. Got them at an average of 40 and SR of 72. Mir Hamza played only 4 matches. Got 16 wickets at 24. If this isn’t nepotism then what else is?”

Hasan Ali had 14 wickets in 6 FC matches in the Quaid e Azam trophy this season. Got them at an average of 40 and SR of 72.

Mir Hamza played only 4 matches. Got 16 wickets at 24.

If this isn’t nepotism then what else is?

— Adeel Azhar (@adeel_azhar) December 21, 2022

Shafqat Shabbir wrote on Twitter, “‘Hamary main fast bowlers Hasan’ – Bhai Hasan Ali has 5 wickets in 4 Test matches in 2022! I can’t deny the fact that Babar lacks the understanding of how grim the affairs are and how to get the team out of the muddle via tactical prowess.”

‘Hamary main fast bowlers Hasan’ – Bhai Hasan Ali has 5 wickets in 4 Test matches in 2022!

I can’t deny the fact that Babar lacks the understanding of how grim the affairs are and how to get the team out of the muddle via tactical prowess. https://t.co/t8FgOr93LG

— Shafqat Shabbir (@Chefkat23) December 20, 2022

Journalist Farid Khan welcomed Ali’s return and said, “Good to see Kamran Ghulam, Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah in the Test squad for series against New Zealand. Ideally, all three should be playing the first Test in Karachi too.”

Good to see Kamran Ghulam, Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah in the Test squad for series against New Zealand. Ideally, all three should be playing the first Test in Karachi too. #PAKvNZ

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) December 21, 2022

Some netizens expressed their thoughts by sharing memes:

Sarfaraz & Hasan Ali AKA Guddu ❤️ pic.twitter.com/weYO1X8mqU

— Thakur (@hassam_sajjad) December 20, 2022

Hasan Ali when selected for #KarachiTest #PAKvENG pic.twitter.com/184YEzTQHq

— Shubham Goel (@shubhamg23) December 12, 2022