Hasan Ali dropped as PCB announces squads for Asia Cup, Netherlands tour

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Wednesday announced squads for the ICC World Cup Super League ODI matches against the Netherlands and the T20 Asia Cup, dropping fast bowler Hasan Ali and replacing him with Naseem Shah.

The PCB unveiled a 16-member squad for the three-match series against the Netherlands starting from Aug 16, and a 15-member squad for the Asia Cup which will commence from Aug 27.

Hasan was player of the tournament in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy win in 2017. But the 28-year-old took just three wickets in two Tests in Sri Lanka last month, claimed only three wickets for 222 runs in his last three ODIs and went wicket-less in two of his last three T20 internationals.

Salman Ali Agha, who toured England in 2021 for the ODIs, has also been recalled for for the Rotterdam matches.

Shaheen Shah Afridi, who is recovering from a knee injury, has been retained in the ODI and T20I sides. According to the PCB, his rehabilitation programme will be overseen by the team trainer and physiotherapist, who will also decide on his return to international cricket.

According to Chief Selector Muhammad Wasim, the management had made only necessary changes to the squad.

“Both the competitions are important for us and we have picked our best available players in consultation with the captain and head coach.”

Commenting on Hasan, Wasim said the pacer had been given a break from international cricket and he had been replaced by Shah.

“He [Shah] is express fast and can give further impetus to the fast bowling department, which already has the likes of Haris Rauf, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shahnawaz Dahani,” the chief selector said.

He added that Naseem had not played any international white-ball cricket but had demonstrated with the red-ball his skills as an attacking pacer with an ability to swing the ball.

“Salman Ali Agha has been recalled to the ODI side after he performed well in the past two Pakistan Cup tournaments, averaging 40.33 and 48.8, respectively. He also gives Babar Azam an additional bowling option.”

The training camp for the players will be held in Lahore from Aug 6 to Aug 11, during which they will also play two 50-over matches.

The national side will depart for Amsterdam on Aug 12 (Friday), while T20I players will join the squad in Dubai for the T20 Asia Cup on Aug 22.

Squads

Netherlands ODIs: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Imam-ul-Haq, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Salman Ali Agha, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Zahid Mehmood.

T20 Asia Cup: Babar Azam (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Asif Ali, Fakhar Zaman, Haider Ali, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shahnawaz Dahani and Usman Qadir.

Player Support Personnel: Mansoor Rana (manager), Saqlain Mushtaq (head coach), Shahid Aslam (assistant to head coach), Mohammad Yousuf (batting coach), Shaun Tait (bowling coach), Drikus Simmon (trainer/strength and conditioning coach), Cliffe Deacon (physiotherapist), Abdul Majeed (fielding coach), Ibrahim Badees (media and digital manager), Lt Col (retd) Asif Mahmood (team security manager), Talha Ejaz (team analyst), Malang Ali (team masseur) and Dr Najeebullah Soomro (team doctor). Col Muhammad Imran will replace Lt Col Asif Mahmood as team security manager for the T20I Asia Cup.

Additional input from AFP