(Source X)
Hasan Ali reflected somberly on Pakistan’s premature exit from the T20 World Cup 2024, branding it a dark chapter for Pakistan cricket. The team’s hopes were dashed after losses to the USA and India in their opening fixtures, despite rallying with victories over Canada and Ireland. Their efforts, however, fell short by a single point compared to the USA, leaving them third in Group A and out of contention.
The disappointing outcome sparked a flurry of critiques from cricketing veterans and analysts, urging substantial reforms within the squad. Hasan Ali, echoing the sentiments of many, emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive improvements across all facets of their game to reclaim Pakistan’s competitive edge on the international stage.
Hasan Ali reminisces about his early days in Pakistani cricket.
In a candid discussion with sports journalist Saj Sadiq, Hasan Ali reminisced about his early days as an international cricketer. He revealed that his introduction to the rigorous recovery processes involved in professional cricket came only after he joined the national team.
“When I became a national player, I knew nothing about the fitness. We just knew to do the 5 laps, 10 laps, 15 laps. When I became a national player, I found lots of things (to do). I had to do gym, I had to make my legs strong. My posture was not good, my shoulders were weak, my back was weak. I made my debut in domestic cricket in 2013. In 2013, he just did the normal stuff,” Hasan Ali said.
The 30-year-old fast bowler also highlighted significant improvements in domestic cricket. However, he noted that there is still much ground to cover. Hasan emphasized the importance of players being in peak physical condition before stepping onto the international stage.
“But now, a lot of things have improved in domestic cricket. A lot of things have been corrected by the PCB (Pakistan Cricket Board). But we need to improve more things in domestic cricket so that the players don’t lack anything when they get elevated towards international cricket,” Ali stated.
Hasan Ali pointed out a concerning trend, expressing dismay over Pakistan’s losses in two major finals that were within their grasp. Additionally, he labeled their elimination from the T20 World Cup 2024 as a “dark day for Pakistan cricket,” highlighting underlying issues that need urgent attention.
“There is something wrong because we have played two finals, in Asia Cup 2022 and World Cup 2022. We lost the semi-final when I dropped the catch. Why we couldn’t cross the line? It means there is something wrong because we had a really good team in the past.”
“Even now, our team is good. I would say, it was a black day for Pakistan cricket when we couldn’t get into the Super 8 and lost to USA. I am not saying they are a bad team. For me, every team is equal. We didn’t play good cricket. We need to improve in everything,” Hasan Ali concluded.
Hasan Ali was absent from Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 squad, as the team management opted for Mohammad Amir’s seasoned experience and Abbas Afridi’s raw pace instead.
