Injured Hasan Ali ruled out of Pakistan's T20 series in Australia

Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali will miss the T20 series in Australia due to a back problem which has kept him out of competitive cricket since the World Cup in England. A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official said that after the latest MRI reports taken after a rehab period, the doctors had advised Hasan Ali another three to four weeks of rest. "Hasan Ali has been undergoing rehab at the national cricket academy in Lahore but apparently his back problem is taking time to heal," said the official.

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Hasan Ali, 25, has been a vital cog of the Pakistan bowling attack especially in white-ball cricket and over the three formats he has taken 148 wickets. He played a stellar role in Pakistan winning the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy but in the recent World Cup, he struggled with his bowling form. Hasan Ali, who has played in 53 ODIs, 30 T20 internationals and nine Tests, is unlikely to be considered for the two Tests in Australia, beginning November 21. 

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Sarfaraz Ahmed sacked as captain

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took away captaincy from the wicket-keeper batsman Sarfaraz Ahmed in Tests and T20. Sarfraz Ahmed had been under immense pressure after Pakistan’s continued failures since the Champions Trophy success in 2017. Under the leadership of Sarfaraz, Pakistan had suffered consecutive failures, including at the World Cup and since then questions were being raised about his ability to lead the side. The fact that Sri Lanka did not have 10 first team players and yet completely outplayed Pakistan seemed to have sealed Sarfaraz's fate. The 32-year-old wicketkeeper-batsman Sarfaraz took over the reins after Misbah-ul-Haq retired. Azhar Ali has been named as the captain for Pakistan’s World Test Championship matches in the 2019-20 season, while Babar Azam has been named as the captain of the T20I side until next year’s ICC T20 World Cup Australia 2020, as confirmed by the officials.

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