Bengaluru: Pakistan bowler Hasan Ali says the team’s fitness issues are clearing up, and has thrown his support behind the off-colour Shaheen Afridi to make a big mark on the tournament.
Pakistan suffered a disappointing loss to India after making a winning start to their ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka and Netherlands.
But the performance of some key players, not least strike bowler Afridi, has been a concern.
However, Hasan Ali, speaking to the assembled media on Thursday, says that part of Afridi’s poor form can be put down to illness, with the 23-year-old one of a number of Pakistan players who have been struggling for premium health.
“No one has control over their health and injury. It’s just room sickness, a flu and hopefully we all will be fine soon,” Hasan said, before backing his fellow bowler to bounce back.
“Shaheen has won us many matches in Pakistan. I know he is not fit right now but very soon he will be there. He is a champion and he has given a lot of performances for Pakistan.”