Hasan Ali eyes national team comeback

Express Tribune

21-04-2025

Karachi Kings' vice-captain Hasan Ali has expressed his confidence about returning to the national side after an impressive performance in the ongoing PSL X.
"My job is to perform. I want to represent Pakistan again - not just to be in the team, but to contribute to wins," he said. "I want to help Karachi Kings lift the PSL X trophy."
The 30-year-old said he was pleased with his recent performances, crediting his hard work at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) for the turnaround.
"I'm quite satisfied with my personal performance. I worked really hard at the NCA to overcome the shortcomings in my bowling. I made technical adjustments and re-modified a few things, which are now yielding results - first in the National T20 and now in the Pakistan Super League (PSL)," he said.
He highlighted his persistence during challenging times and how domestic cricket played a crucial role in his comeback.
"Even when I was dropped, I went back to domestic cricket, performed well, and earned my place back. That's always the path - performance is the only way back."
"The PSL gives us the opportunity to share dressing rooms with international stars, but domestic cricket is equally important. It's a platform where you can truly refine your skills," he said.
Hasan admitted that he has matured both as a person and as a player over the past year and a half. "With time, a person changes. Half of my career has passed, and now that I'm a senior player, I should carry myself accordingly. There's a time to enjoy, but there's also a time to fulfill responsibilities. The learning process never ends," he concluded.
Sahibzada Farhan aims for permanent spot in national team
Islamabad United's opening batter, Sahibzada Farhan, has expressed his determination to transfer his impressive performances in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) and National T20 Cup into international cricket.
In a conversation a local news channel, the 29-year-old cricketer clarified that his goal is not just to make a comeback to the national team but to secure a permanent place in the squad. He stated, "My aim is not just to play a couple of matches and make a comeback. Whenever I return to the national team, I want to make a permanent spot for myself and play for a long period."
Sahibzada Farhan had an outstanding performance in the last National T20 Cup, scoring 605 runs in 7 innings, which included 3 centuries and 2 half-centuries. His stellar performance in the domestic tournament played a key role in him securing a place in Islamabad United after being overlooked in the PSL draft.
Farhan revealed that his initial century in the National T20 Cup boosted his confidence, saying, "My goal was to perform well in the tournament and attract the attention of PSL teams."
Rejecting the perception of being just a domestic performer, he emphasized, "People used to say that I only score runs in domestic tournaments, but my performance in PSL should be enough to silence them because PSL is a top-tier league, and performances here carry immense value."
Acknowledging the challenges of making a place as an opener in the national team, Farhan pointed out the abundance of talented openers in the squad. However, he stressed that players should not be judged solely on the basis of two or three matches; consistent chances and performance are key to securing a spot in the team.
Farhan also expressed his ambition to score more centuries in PSL, stating, "My aim is to score at least one or two more centuries this PSL so I can break the record for the most centuries in a year. I don't settle after one or two innings; I want to play an important role in helping my team win."