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Inzamam-ul-Haq Backs Hasan Ali to Fill Shoes Of Naseem Shah In 2023 World Cup

image-lmug6acvHasan Ali replaces Naseem Shah in World Cup squad | Source: X.com

Former Pakistan captain and the current chief selector, Inzamam-ul-Haq, has thrown his support behind Hasan Ali to perform well in the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023, filling in the shoes of their pacer sensation Naseem Shah.

During the Asia Cup Super Fours game against India, Naseem suffered a right shoulder injury, which forced him to sit out the remainder of the tournament. Despite the best efforts from the medical team, he won't be ready in time for the World Cup.

Speaking to reporters after Pakistan's World Cup squad announcement, here's what Inzamam-ul-Haq said on Hasan Ali replacing Naseem Shah:

"Hasan Ali has done well in the Lanka Premier League and has been impressive elsewhere too. He is an experienced player and while he hasn't been playing international cricket for a while, he has given performances in big events for Pakistan."

Inzamam-ul-Haq also mentioned that the management's priority was finding a bowler who could be effective with both the new ball and the old ball, much like Naseem Shah, which is why they included Hasan Ali in the squad.

"Once Naseem was ruled out, we wanted someone who would bowl with the new as well as the old ball and that's why we went for Hasan. He brings energy into the squad by his presence and is a team man."  

Inzamam further revealed that if Hasan Ali had been in good health, then he would have been sent to Sri Lanka ahead of Zaman Khan, who was named Naseem Shah's replacement for the Asia Cup.

"Hasan Ali had a finger injury and wasn't cleared for the Asia Cup by the doctors. Had he been cleared, he would have been my first choice over Zaman Khan (as Naseem's replacement). In such big events, you need a bit of experience, especially when the tournament is in India where the games could be high-scoring." 

The loss of Naseem Shah is a major setback for Pakistan, given his versatility in taking wickets in any phase of the game. Hasan Ali has a tough job ahead as he steps into this crucial role for the ICC World Cup 2023.