Can’t take West Indies lightly, says Hasan Ali

Pakistan pacer happy to play in Karachi, thinks visitors will put up a good show

KARACHI: Karachi is set to host West Indies for a three-match T20I series starting Sunday and Pakistan right-arm pacer Hasan Ali thinks the visitors have the fire-power to upset the hosts.

Hasan, while talking to The Express Tribune, said that they would not be taking the Caribbean giants lightly when both teams take on each other at the National Stadium of Karachi on April 1, 2 and 3.

West Indies may lack the services of the likes of Chris Gayle and captain Carlos Brathwaite in the series, but their captain Jason Muhammad and other well-known faces such as Marlon Samuels, Denesh Ramdin and Samuel Badree can be more than a handful on their day.



The 13-man squad also includes Chadwick Walton and Andre Fletcher, who recently visited Karachi during the PSL3 final.

“West Indies may not feature big names, but they are famous for power-hitting,” said Hasan. “Even if they lose two early wickets, the third man coming in can hit big and take the team to a decent total.”

Hasan also expressed his excitement at playing in Pakistan and praised the selection committee. “It is good to see the players who performed in Pakistan Super League (PSL) have been included in the team which has strengthened our squad. We are really happy that we will be playing an international match at our home ground after so many years and are confident to perform well.”

On training camp and personal fitness

The Pakistan team is currently preparing for the West Indies series at the National Stadium and Hasan says all players will be in form due to their exploits during the recently concluded PSL3.

“Every player is in form as they were playing in the PSL, so the matches against West Indies would be good,” he said. “I have been working on my bowling. I am fit and getting back in rhythm. There were some moments in PSL where I went for runs, but that is a part of the game. I will be using that experience to my advantage against West Indies.”

Ready for my debut: Hussain Talat

Hussain Talat, PSL champions Islamabad United’s left-handed batsman, is in line to make his international debut during the West Indies T20Is and he thinks he is ready for it.

“I have been working in the camp to improve my skill set. I have a feeling that this will be a good series for me if I get a chance in the final eleven,” said Talat.



While talking about the playing conditions in Karachi, Talat said cricketers should be ready for any challenge. “No matter what the conditions are, if a bowlers gets to bowl he has to perform and if a batsman gets the chance, then he should score runs for the team. That is what the attitude of every player should be.”

Mohammed to lead WI in Karachi

Cricket West Indies on Friday said that they don’t have issues with any players opting out on ground of security for the tour to Pakistan.

The biggest name to miss the three-T20I series is Brathwaite, who opted out due to security concerns.

"We had a few players that opted not to tour Pakistan, due to their or their families' security concerns and Cricket West Indies (CWI) has fully accepted their position," said West Indies selector Courtney Browne.

"This tour is a further major step for our friends at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to bring their cricket back home, and we are pleased that our players and support staff have recognised this and supported this venture," said CWI chief executive Jonny Grave. "We have made it very clear to the players and support staff that had personal reservations about this tour that we fully understand and accept their position."