Warwickshire Seeks Clarity on Hasan Ali’s Availability

Warwickshire County Cricket Club is engaging with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to gain a clearer understanding regarding the availability of their fast bowler, Hasan Ali.

The Bears had previously secured the services of the 30-year-old bowler in a deal covering all formats, scheduled from May 29 until the season’s conclusion.

However, the recent awarding of a central contract to Hasan by the PCB has introduced uncertainty regarding his ability to remain with Warwickshire for the entire season.

Hasan is anticipated to debut for Warwickshire in the T20 Blast match against Derbyshire on June 8.

The club has also received notification that Hasan will be unavailable for the County Championship fixtures against Somerset and Sussex, commencing on June 22 and June 29, respectively.

While Hasan is expected to participate in a maximum of five additional T20 matches in July, Warwickshire is actively seeking confirmation from the PCB concerning his potential return for the knockout rounds, contingent upon the team’s advancement from the group stage.

Chief executive Stuart Cain stated, “We had believed that we were assured he would not be involved with the Pakistan side this summer. However, a change in PCB management has resulted in him being given a central contract, preventing him from fully supporting us throughout the season as initially expected.”

Cain further emphasized the broader challenges related to player availability: “Considering the financial advantages linked to franchise cricket worldwide and the expanded international schedule, it is increasingly difficult to identify players who can both strengthen the squad and remain available for the majority of the summer.”

Adding to their concerns, Warwickshire will also be without Australian all-rounder Beau Webster for the commencement of the T20 Blast.

Webster has been selected for Australia’s squad for the ICC World Test Championship final against South Africa, followed by a tour of the West Indies.

Cain commented, “Beau has integrated well at Edgbaston, contributing significantly both on and off the field. His performances for Australia over the winter indicated that this was a distinct possibility.”

Warwickshire’s next match is a County Championship game against Worcestershire at New Road on Friday.