ODI World Cup 2023: Hasan Ali out of South Africa clash due to illness

Hasan Ali bowling. (Photo by Matthew Lewis-ICC/ICC via Getty Images)

Ahead of the all-important clash against South Africa on Friday, October 27, Pakistan have been handed a major blow as ace pacer Hasan Ali has been ruled out of the game. The reason for his snub is slated as fever. Due to illness, the bowler was not able to join the team’s training session on Thursday. However, he is expected to return fully fit for the remaining fixtures.

According to PCB officials, the star pacer has been advised to rest so that he can feature for the remainder of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023. Notably, bowling all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jr. is expected to replace Ali for the game, which is scheduled to take place at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

Speaking of his campaign so far, the Punjab-born cricketer has been a vital cog for the Men in Green in the World Cup, as he has taken eight wickets in five games with a best of 4/71 against Sri Lanka in Hyderabad. His economy has also been decent, as he has given runs at 5.82 per over.

For the unversed, the pacer was called out to be a part of the Pakistani contingent as a last-minute replacement for injured Naseem Shah. His addition to the squad came as a shocker for many, as the likes of Zaman Khan were expected to be given the preference. However, the 29-year-old didn’t disappoint, as he has the second most number of wickets only after Shaheen Shah Afridi.

Pakistan in a do-or-die position to qualify

The Babar Azam-led side has had a dismal run at the tournament so far, as they won only two out of their five games, which included a win against the Netherlands and Sri Lanka, respectively. They had to suffer losses at the hands of India, Afghanistan and Australia, which puts the side in a spot of bother, as their qualification scenario for the semi-finals has become complex.

Also Check: ODI World Cup 2023 Points Table

To make things simple, Babar & Co. cannot afford to lose in their remaining fixtures against South Africa, England, New Zealand and Bangladesh, and thus, they will need to put their best foot forward for the rest of the league stage.