Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has said he was informed well in advance that he would not be part of the ODI series against Bangladesh, but he is still unaware of the exact reason behind his exclusion from the national squad.
Speaking to Samaa TV in an exclusive interview, Hasan expressed contentment with the team management's decision, saying he does not want to dwell on the past.
“I do not know the reason for not returning to the ODI team. The team management did what they thought was best, and I respect that,” he said. “There was an injury, but it has now improved a lot.”
He added that there had already been a discussion between him, the captain and head coach during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), where it was decided that he would not be part of the Bangladesh series.
“The head coach and captain had a conversation with me. They informed me that I would not be included in this squad as they were trying to form a pool of 25 players,” said Hasan, adding that he supported the idea of strengthening the team’s bench.
The 30-year-old pacer maintained that criticism from outside did not bother him. “People don’t know the full picture. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, but I have nothing to do with critics.”
Hasan also disclosed that he has obtained a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to participate in county cricket. He reaffirmed his preference for Test cricket over the shorter formats.
“If I have to leave T20 and ODI cricket for the sake of playing Tests, then I will,” he said. “Test cricket is where performances are genuinely valued.”
When asked about captaincy styles, Hasan named former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed as his favourite captain.
“Sarfaraz will always be number one for me,” he said. “I have also played under Babar Azam and Salman Ali Agha — both are good in their own ways. Salman promotes modern-day cricket and has an aggressive approach.”
Hasan said he has not played under Mohammad Rizwan’s captaincy but believed Rizwan to be a capable leader as well.
Touching on lighter topics, Hasan shared a personal anecdote about his hairstyle. “My wife doesn’t like my long hair. Sometimes she tells me to cut it, sometimes she changes her mind,” he laughed. “But I like keeping my hair long.”
He added that if he had not been a cricketer, he would likely have pursued a career in law to fulfil his mother’s dream.
Commenting on Pakistan’s response to tensions with India, Hasan said the country’s military and government had given an “appropriate” and “strong” message to the world.
“If someone looks at our home with bad intentions, we will not remain silent. Today’s technology can destroy the world in a moment. War is not the solution,” he concluded.
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