Ahmed Shahzad, former T20 World Cup champion, voices skepticism over PCB’s choice to recall Hasan Ali for Pakistan’s T20I squad against Ireland and England. Ahmed Shahzad points out the close relationship between Babar Azam and Hasan Ali, adding another layer of scrutiny to the pacer’s selection.
Ahmed Shahzad, a fiery Pakistani opener, took the cricket world by storm in 2009. The right-hander became the first Pakistani to smash a century in a T20 World Cup, showcasing his audacious batting style. Ahmed Shahzad displayed flashes of brilliance, like his ton against South Africa on their home turf, but also faced controversies that hampered Ahmed Shahzad’s consistency and national team selection.
Hasan Ali, a talented Pakistani pace bowler, made a mark in cricket history with his impressive performances during Pakistan’s successful 2017 Champions Trophy journey. His skillful swing bowling troubled opponents and played a key role in their win. But his recent drop in form has raised doubts about his inclusion in the important World Cup 2024. Questions are swirling about whether he can recapture his past magic and be a reliable weapon in the upcoming global tournament.
Wahab Riaz has had a close relationship with Hasan Ali- Ahmed Shahzad
In a recent interview with Geo News, Ahmed Shahzad expressed his thoughts on Ali’s comeback. Having last featured in a T20I match against Sri Lanka in September 2022, Ali is poised to return to the shortest format of the game after nearly two years of being sidelined.
Ahmed Shahzad pointed out that the fast bowler shares a strong bond with captain Babar Azam, chief selector Wahab Riaz, and assistant coach Azhar Mahmood.
“Hasan Ali was going to find his way back in the team because see Azhar Mahmood has come, he likes Hasan Ali a lot. They have a close relation. Wahab Riaz has had a close relationship with Hasan Ali. Even Babar Azam is close with Hasan Ali,” Ahmed Shahzad said.
Shahzad further clarified that while he didn’t completely believe Ali was chosen solely due to his friendships, he still raised concerns about the pacer’s recent form, adding, “I am not saying that he has made it to the squad based on that only. However, I am not able to find any performances to justify his place in the team. Even Haris Rauf was injured. Just after recovering, he has been selected. How?”
Ahmed Shahzad On PSL And Team Selection
During the same program with Geo News, Shahzad criticised the PCB for favouring PSL stars over players who perform consistently in domestic cricket. He suggested that if domestic tournaments hold no weight in team selection, then the PCB should consider discontinuing them altogether.
Ahmed Shahzad concluded by saying, “If you want to do things based on PSL only, like Shadab is a PSL captain, then he should be there, someone is a Lahore Qalandars player, he should be there, someone is a Peshawar Zalmi player, so he should be there. Then, we can stop domestic cricket and just rotate those 35-40 players in Pakistan team.”
Pakistan is gearing up for a busy schedule as they prepare to face Ireland in a three-match series starting May 10, followed by a challenging three-match series against England from May 22 to 30.