Pacer Muhammad Hasnain has replaced Shaheen Shah Afridi in Pakistan’s squad for Asia Cup. Shaheen Shah Afridi had been ruled out from the national squad after doctors advised him to rest following a knee injury.
Fans were upset after news of Shaheen Shah Afridi being excluded from the squad of the Pakistan Cricket Team came out. Some expressed shock and disbelief others even slammed the team management for not making Shaheen Shah Afridi rest before an important event.
Soon after the news, speculations began regarding who will replace Shaheen Shah Afridi. Some said PCB should rope in Wahab Riaz due to his experience. Others asked to get Muhammad Amir back in the team, particularly for the matches against India. However, PCB included Muhammad Hasnain in the team.
Pakistan named Hasnain as Shaheen Shah Afridi replacement in Asia Cup. #AsiaCup2022
— Umar Farooq Kalson (@kalson) August 22, 2022
Mohammad Hasnain replaces injured Shaheen Afridi in Pakistan's Asia Cup squad 🏏 pic.twitter.com/RDyZgk5nbN
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) August 22, 2022
Read more: Muhammad Hasnain to bounce back stronger after ICC ban
The 22-year-old fast bowler will join the team in Dubai. He was participating in The Hundred and represented Oval Invincibles. The right-arm fast bowler has taken 17 wickets in 18 T20Is. He played his last T20 against West Indies in December 2021.
In January this year, Muhammad Hasnain made history with a maiden three-wicket debut over in the Big Bash League.
Hasnain made his Big Bash League debut with Sydney Thunder and left an incredible impact with his triple wicket-maiden debut over. The Pakistani cricketer has become the first bowler in the history of the Big Bash League (BBL) to take three wickets in the first over of the competition.
The 22-year-old took wickets on his second, third, and fifth balls giving away just 20 runs. His tremendous performance leads his team to a 28-runs victory against Adelaide Strikers.
The video of Hasnain’s spectacular over went viral on social media. Young Pakistani cricketers heaped praise from cricket fans all over the world. Soon, he was suspended from bowling at the international level after biomechanical testing confirmed his action was illegal, the country’s cricket board said.
Hasnain has cleared his bowling action after objections were raised about his action during the Big Bash League earlier this year. His new bowling action was given a green signal by PCB and ICC this year. Hasnain was even stopped from playing the Pakistan Cricket League matches as well.