Team’s elimination disappoints Hasan Ali

LAHORE: Karachi Kings vice-captain Hasan Ali expressed disappointment following his team’s elimination from PSL 10, but remained optimistic about their overall progress this season.

Karachi Kings fell to Lahore Qalandars in Eliminator 1, as their 191-run target was chased down with eight balls to spare, sending the defending champions out of the tournament. Despite the loss, Hasan Ali, currently PSL 10’s leading wicket-taker with 17 dismissals in 10 matches, emphasized that Karachi Kings displayed improvement compared to previous seasons.

“It’s a disappointing moment for me. Unfortunately, we couldn’t win, but as a team, we played better cricket this season than the last three or four seasons,” Hasan said at the post-match press conference. Analyzing the match, Hasan admitted Karachi Kings struggled in the powerplay, which ultimately allowed Lahore Qalandars to take control of the chase.

“We set a good target, but we didn’t bowl in the right areas during the powerplay,” he acknowledged, adding that Abdullah Shafique and Fakhar Zaman’s batting brilliance played a decisive role in the outcome. Hasan also reflected on his personal journey back from a career-threatening injury, crediting his training at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for his successful return.

“It was very important for me to return to the team after facing a serious injury. Pakistan means everything to me, and being back in the squad was very special.” He also praised Karachi Kings captain David Warner, highlighting his international experience and leadership influence: “Having Warner with us was a big boost. Playing under his captaincy and learning from him as vice-captain was a great experience.