Bruised by injuries and form issues, Hasan Ali has taken the tough route back to the top
\nRecalling his \u201cdifficult journey\u201d back to the Pakistan side, having fought through injuries and form issues, Hasan Ali has underlined the importance of the first-class grind for youngsters in their quest to play top-flight cricket.
\nAli missed a major chunk of international cricket between 2019 and 2020 due to multiple injuries ranging from back strain to broken ribs. But he played a key role in Central Punjab\u2019s run to the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final. In all, he played nine games, with the best performance reserved for the final, where he made a century and picked up a five-for.
\nHe was named Player of the Series for his 43 wickets at an average of 20.06. That performance put him back on the national radar and he is back leading Pakistan to victories, most recently in the first Test against Zimbabwe in Harare.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s very simple: if anyone intends to play long for Pakistan and is free, he should play first-class cricket,\u201d Hasan said after the innings and 116-run victory on Saturday. \u201cI made my international debut in 2016 and since then until last year I didn\u2019t get a chance to play the entire first-class season.
\n\u201cIf you play the full long season, it will certainly help you a lot in many ways. You get to bowl longer spells with the new and old ball. It lifts your skillsets. The long spells may tire you, but eventually it prepares you for international cricket by enhancing your temperament and making you tough.
\n\u201cI know everyone has their own thoughts about cricket. Some like to play the shorter formats but for me, I love to play Test cricket. It\u2019s an interesting format and it actually tests your temperament and patience in every possible way. I always wanted to wear a Test cap and it is like a dream that comes true for me that I am representing Pakistan in this format and staying relevant with my performances.\u201d
\nSince his return after over two years, he\u2019s been in roaring form. He picked a match-winning ten-for against South Africa in Rawalpindi; it helped Pakistan clinch their first Test series win over South Africa since 2003. He picked up 4 for 18 to help Pakistan beat Zimbabwe in the T20I decider last month. In his most recent Test outing in Harare, he finished with a nine-for.
\nThis upswing was far from his mind when he went into oblivion two years ago, after his body nearly ditched him. He fought through injuries in his groin, back and ribs. He lost his PCB central contract, even though the PCB continue to pay him a monthly retainer from the cricketers\u2019 welfare fund, apart from also footing his medical bills. There were talks of surgery in Australia, but Ali eventually settled for several video sessions that helped him through his rehabilitation during the pandemic last year.
\n\u201cThere was a phase when I lost nearly everything,\u201d Ali said looking back on the tough phase. \u201cIt was a difficult journey. I was out of cricket for nearly two years, fighting with multiple injuries but came back after getting fitter. It was a frustrating time and I used to cry. But one thing I never forgot was to try and work hard. Because that was the only thing I had in my hands.
\n\u201cI had one aim and that was to make a comeback so that the world will remember [me]. I had a lot to prove on my fitness and performances for my comeback. I did well and carried on the same performance in international cricket. It was the hard work that paid off.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Bruised by injuries and form issues, Hasan Ali has taken the tough route back to the top Recalling his \u201cdifficult journey\u201d back to the Pakistan side, having fought through injuries and form issues, Hasan Ali has underlined the importance of the first-class grind for youngsters in their quest to play top-flight cricket. Ali missed a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":189879,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-189870","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-sports"],"yoast_head":"\n