Cricket

Pakistan's Hasan Ali has expressed his stance on the possibility of India not participating in the ICC Champions Trophy 2025, scheduled to be held in Pakistan. In an interview with Samaa TV, Ali echoed the PCB's position that the tournament will take place in Pakistan regardless of India's presence.Ali emphasized the importance of separating sports from politics, noting that many Indian players have expressed their desire to play in Pakistan. However, he acknowledged that India has its own policies and considerations."If we're going there (to India) to play, then they should come to Pakistan too," Ali said. "But if India don't want to come, we'll play without them. Cricket should be played in Pakistan."Reports indicate that India may not travel to Pakistan due to ongoing political tensions. The BCCI is reportedly considering requesting the ICC to move their matches to Sri Lanka or Dubai.The Champions Trophy is scheduled for February-March 2025 in Pakistan. India has not played a bilateral series in Pakistan since 2008 due to strained relations. Their encounters have been limited to ICC tournaments and Asia Cups.Pakistan won the Champions Trophy in 2017, while India claimed the title in 2013 and 2002.Ali's comments highlight the complex relationship between sports and politics, particularly in the context of India-Pakistan cricket. While many fans and players desire to see the two teams compete on Pakistani soil, political tensions may ultimately prevent it.

Aamer Jamal's brief stint with Warwickshire has ended prematurely due to persistent fitness issues. The Pakistani pacer joined the English county in April but managed only three appearances across formats.Jamal's debut against Nottinghamshire was promising, but he struggled for rhythm and pace in subsequent outings. A back injury further sidelined him, limiting his involvement in the County Championship.In the Blast, Jamal played just one match, conceding 25 runs in a wicketless over and being dismissed for a first-ball duck. Warwickshire's director of cricket, Gavin Larsen, expressed disappointment that Jamal could not showcase his abilities.Jamal's compatriot Hasan Ali has also faced injury setbacks at Warwickshire, missing recent Blast matches due to an elbow problem. The county has been plagued by seam-bowling injuries this season, with Craig Miles, Liam Norwell, and Chris Rushworth all spending time on the sidelines.Despite their bowling woes, Warwickshire has performed well in the Blast, topping the North Group. However, they remain winless in Division One of the Championship.To bolster their bowling options, Warwickshire has signed former England Under-19 seamer Ethan Bamber from Middlesex. Bamber was highly sought after, and his acquisition is a significant boost for the county.

Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali, known for his energetic "generator" celebration, has suffered a rib injury while performing his signature move during a T20 Blast 2024 match for Warwickshire against Nottinghamshire. This is not the first time Ali's celebration has led to an injury, as he previously sprained his shoulder in 2018 while celebrating a wicket against Zimbabwe.Ali, 29, has been struggling with injuries and form, which contributed to his exclusion from Pakistan's 15-man squad for the ongoing T20 World Cup 2024. He has been participating in the T20 Blast 2024 for Warwickshire in an attempt to regain his place in the national T20 side.In the match against Nottinghamshire, Ali claimed two wickets, playing a key role in Warwickshire's victory. However, he injured himself while celebrating the dismissal of Olly Stones. A video on social media shows Ali grimacing in pain as he completes his celebration.The extent of Ali's rib injury is still unknown, but Warwickshire expects him to recover in time for their third T20 Blast match against Lancashire on June 7.Ali's injury is a setback for both Warwickshire and Pakistan. Warwickshire will be hoping to have him back in action soon, while Pakistan will be hoping he can regain his form and fitness ahead of the T20 World Cup.Pakistan, having lost the England series 0-2, will be hoping for a positive result when they take on the co-hosts USA to kick off their T20 World Cup campaign on Thursday.

Birmingham Bears' bowlers put on a dominant display to secure a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Durham in their Vitality Blast opener at the Seat Unique Riverside.Hasan Ali and Richard Gleeson led the charge, claiming five wickets between them to restrict Durham to a paltry 101 all out. Alex Lees and Graham Clark provided a promising start for the hosts, but the Bears' bowlers quickly turned the tide.Dan Mousley dismissed Clark for 14, while Hasan accounted for Colin Ackermann and Ollie Robinson. George Garton and Jake Lintott also chipped in with wickets, leaving Durham reeling at 64 for 6.Ashton Turner and Michael Jones offered some resistance, but Briggs and Gleeson struck again to leave Durham on the brink of collapse. Hasan wrapped up the innings with the wickets of Jones and Matthew Potts, finishing with impressive figures of 3 for 20.In reply, Birmingham's openers Rob Yates and Alex Davies got off to a solid start. Yates hit three fours off Callum Parkinson before being dismissed for 29. Davies was run out for 13, while Dan Mousley fell lbw to Ben Raine.However, Sam Hain remained unbeaten on 27 to guide Birmingham home with plenty of time to spare. Jacob Bethell contributed 18 before being dismissed by Potts, but Hain ensured a comfortable victory for the Bears.Durham's batting woes continued after their poor performance against Lancashire, while Birmingham's bowlers showed their class. The Bears will look to build on this victory when they host Derbyshire Falcons on Saturday, while Durham will aim to improve their batting against Leicestershire Foxes next Friday.

Pakistan's T20 World Cup squad for 2024 has been announced, with Babar Azam once again leading the charge. The 15-member squad features a few surprises, including the omission of Hasan Ali, Irfan Khan, and Agha Salman.Abbas Afridi has made the final cut, giving Pakistan five specialist fast bowlers. Imad Wasim, who recently came out of retirement, will provide the left-arm spin option, while Abrar Ahmed is the lone specialist legspinner.The squad is as follows:* Babar Azam (captain)* Saim Ayub* Mohammad Rizwan (wicket-keeper)* Fakhar Zaman* Azam Khan (wicket-keeper)* Usman Khan* Iftikhar Ahmed* Imad Wasim* Shaheen Shah Afridi* Shadab Khan* Mohammad Amir* Abbas Afridi* Naseem Shah* Haris Rauf* Abrar AhmedThe absence of Hasan Ali is a notable omission, as he has been a key member of Pakistan's bowling attack in recent years. However, his recent form has been poor, and he was released back to Warwickshire earlier this week.Irfan Khan and Agha Salman have also been left out, despite being part of the squad for the recent Asia Cup. Afridi's inclusion is a surprise, as he has not played for Pakistan since 2021.Pakistan will be hoping to improve on their performance at the 2022 T20 World Cup, where they were eliminated in the semi-finals by England. They will face a tough challenge in the 2024 tournament, which will be played in the USA and the Caribbean.

Hasan Ali's hopes of representing Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup have suffered a setback after he was released from the squad for the ongoing series against England. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Wednesday that Ali would resume his stint with Warwickshire in county cricket.Ali's release comes as a surprise, as he was initially selected as an injury cover for Haris Rauf. However, after a disappointing performance in the series decider against Ireland, where he conceded 42 runs in three wicketless overs, Ali has been deemed surplus to requirements.Pakistan's provisional squad for the T20 World Cup is expected to be announced soon, and Ali's omission from the squad is a significant blow to his chances of making the final cut. The deadline for submitting the final list of 15 players to the ICC is Saturday.Warwickshire, who were initially caught off guard by Ali's international recall, will welcome his return ahead of their County Championship fixture against Lancashire on Friday. Ali is also expected to feature in the T20 Blast, which starts next week, and will remain with the club until the end of July.Meanwhile, Ali's compatriot Aamer Jamal has struggled to make an impact at Warwickshire, taking just one wicket in his first two appearances. He has lost his place in the side to Michael Rae, who has impressed with five wickets in his debut match.With several other bowlers injured, Warwickshire have also handed a first-class debut to Barbados-born Che Simmons, who recorded match figures of 5 for 71 against Essex.

Pakistan's T20I squad for the upcoming series against Ireland and England has undergone significant changes, with the return of experienced players and the omission of some key figures.Usama Mir and Zaman Khan have been dropped from the squad, while Hasan Ali, who last played a T20I in 2022, has been recalled. Haris Rauf, who was injured during the Pakistan Super League (PSL), has also been included, along with Agha Salman.The squad announcement, made by three members of the selection panel, also sees the return of Mohammad Rizwan, Azam Khan, and Irfan Khan, who were ruled out of last month's series against New Zealand due to injuries. However, their fitness remains a concern, with selector Wahab Riaz expressing cautious optimism."Rizwan, Haris, Irfan, and Azam are being assessed," Riaz said. "There is a significant improvement in their fitness. They're part of the squad because we hope they will be fit for the Ireland series."Pakistan's squad largely resembles the one that played against New Zealand, with Usman Khan, Mohammad Amir, and Imad Wasim retaining their places. Despite speculation about the potential return of Aamer Jamal, the all-rounder was not selected, while Mohammad Haris continues to be overlooked.Hasan Ali's selection has been attributed to his experience and ICC tournament pedigree, rather than his current form. He had a stellar PSL season with Karachi Kings, taking 14 wickets at an economy of 8.26, but was not selected for the New Zealand series.His inclusion appears to be based on the belief in his ability beyond just hard numbers, and an opportunity to assess him in Ireland and England before the squad is whittled down to 15 for the T20 World Cup.Pakistan will play three T20Is against Ireland starting May 10, followed by four games against England. The deadline to announce the squad for the T20 World Cup (May 24) is after they play the first T20I against England (May 22).

Karachi Kings' hopes of reaching the Pakistan Super League (PSL) playoffs received a significant boost on Wednesday as they secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Quetta Gladiators. Fast bowler Hasan Ali played a pivotal role in the triumph, claiming four wickets for just 15 runs.Quetta Gladiators, led by Shan Masood, elected to bat first but were unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Hasan Ali's variations proved too much for the Gladiators' batsmen, as he dismissed Saud Shakeel, Khawaja Nafay, and Sarfaraz Ahmed in quick succession. Blessing Muzarabani also contributed with two wickets, including that of Jason Roy.Quetta's innings crumbled to a dismal 118 all out in 19.1 overs, marking the lowest total in the current PSL season. Rilee Rossouw and Usman Tariq offered some resistance, but they were unable to prevent the collapse.In response, Karachi Kings openers Tim Seifert and James Vince played with confidence and composure. Seifert top-scored with 49 runs, including six fours and two sixes, while Vince contributed 27. Shoaib Malik remained unbeaten on 27, guiding Karachi to victory with more than four overs to spare.The win lifts Karachi Kings to fifth place in the PSL standings with six points from seven matches. Quetta Gladiators remain in the top two with nine points, but their recent form has been a cause for concern.