Hasan not returning as family issue is resolved

KARACHI: Islamabad United received a huge boost when ace pacer Hasan Ali decided not to return to Pakistan after his family matter was resolved. Hasan was scheduled to return to Pakistan for family reasons on Sunday. However, he has now decided to stay with United and will be available to his team for the rest of the PSL.

“I was going through a personal family issue, which has been resolved thanks to my wonderful wife,” Hasan said. “She assured me she would take care of it and wants me to concentrate on my cricket and my career. Hats off to such a wonderful partner. She has always stood by me through the hardest times and after consulting with her, I have decided to stay on with Islamabad United for the remainder of the PSL 6,” he added.

As Hasan had not left the biosecure bubble he will not need to go through quarantine. United were scheduled to take on holders Karachi Kings on Monday night.

I’m not a four-over batsman: Asif

KARACHI: Hard-hitting batsman Asif Ali has said that he is not a batsman of four overs and wherever he gets an opportunity he will prove his critics wrong.

“Apart from Islamabad United no one trusts my batting. Some people say that I am a four-over batsman and for them my message is that I am not a batsman of four overs and whenever and wherever I get an opportunity like I got today I will InshaAllah prove myself,” Asif said in a post-match talk after guiding Islamabad United to a 28-run win over Lahore Qalandars with a superb fifty in the HBL PSL-6 in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.

Islamabad United were 20-5 before Asif hammered a 43-ball 75 and shared a record 123 runs stand for the sixth wicket with Iftikhar Ahmed (49) to take United to a fighting total of 152-7.

Asif said it was a tough situation and there was pressure. “The situation was very tough as we had lost five wickets for 20. There was pressure. We both had planned to go deep, we kept backing each other and thanks God were were able set a good total keeping in view the behaviour of the pitch,” Asif said.

He said that later in the innings the pitch got easy for batting. “The pitch was a bit difficult in the start but later on it started favouring the batsmen and the ball was coming on the bat,” Asif said.

“We go as per the plan of the coach. Tomorrow we will meet and then will field according to the plans,” he said. United are on the top with ten points from seven outings. Qalandars also have ten points but are in second spot due to lower net run rate. Asif was part of Pakistan’s white ball cricket squad on tours of South Africa and Zimbabwe recently, but failed to live up to the billing.