Last Update on: November 14th, 2021 at 03:07 pm
Former Pakistan pace bowler Shoaib Akhtar wants Hasan Ali to make a strong comeback from the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan lost to Australia by five wickets in the semi-final match after nearly dominating the entire game.
Pakistan lost to Australia in the semis
Australia were reduced to 96/5 at one stage while they were chasing 177, thanks to leg-spinner Shadab Khan’s classic bowling with the figures of 4/26 from his four overs.
It was Australian wicket-keeper Matthew Wade and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis who scripted a marvellous chase with their uneaten partnership of 81 to enter the final.
After the 17th over, Wade shifted his gears and smoked one big shot to Hasan Ali over long-on for a six, then flicked a boundary on the final ball of the 18th over.
Wade was dropped by Hasan Ali just before he hammered three consecutive sixes to Pakistan’s best bowler Shaheen Afridi to wrap the match in the penultimate over itself.
Hasan Ali also went expensive with his bowling as he ended up conceding 44 runs from his four overs.
Hasan Ali needs to bring back his pace: Shoaib Akhtar
The 27-year-old Pakistan pacer has been under the radar for his abysmal performance in the semi-final game.
Akhtar acknowledged that Hasan didn’t bowl well enough on the slow wickets but asked him to come back with a strong body and not get demoralised.
“I know Hasan Ali did not bowl well. He has a weak body and lacks pace. He did not have the nip to beat the batsmen on these slow wickets. He did not have that variety. He needs to think about what he needs to do now,” Akhtar said on his YouTube channel.
”Strengthen his body and bring back his pace. He needs to put in a lot of effort again. He should not get demoralised. He needs to make a strong comeback and for a strong comeback he needs a strong body and for that he needs a strong will. He should gather all of this and I wish him the best of luck,” he added.
Hasan Ali picked five wickets from six games in the tournament at an economy rate of 9.
Also Read: Hasan Ali Speaks Out For The First Time After Pakistan’s Semifinal Loss Against Australia