Skip to content
Search

Latest Stories

Submit Guest Post

Pakistan's Hasan does not fear flat pitches at World Cup

Pakistan seamer Hasan Ali says he is not worried about the prospect of flat pitches that are likely to favour batsmen during the World Cup in England and Wales.

The 24-year-old was Pakistan's star performer in the Champions Trophy win in England two years ago, taking 13 wickets to finish as player of the tournament.


But his recent form has been a worry for Pakistan, coinciding with 10 straight ODI losses leading into their opening World Cup match against the West Indies in Nottingham on Friday.

Hasan said he knows how to bowl on flat pitches.

"The way modern cricket is going, every bowler needs to know that taking wickets is the key," Hasan said. "You take wickets and you win matches."

Touted for taking wickets in the middle overs of one-day matches, Hasan rose to the top of the bowler's charts in 2017, taking 45 wickets -- the most in the calendar year.

But he managed just three wickets in four matches against England in a 4-0 loss earlier in May.

"I know that I have not taken many wickets since the South Africa tour, but I am doing the hard work with bowling coach (Azhar Mahmood) and once I get my rhythm I am sure wickets will come my way," said Hasan.

"We know that our bowling, which has been our strength, is not doing well but with the return of two experienced bowlers in Wahab Riaz and Mohammad Amir our bowling is now at full strength," he added.

Amir missed the last four matches in the England ODI series due to chicken pox before he was included in the World Cup squad.

Riaz was also left out of the Wold Cup preliminary squad but was included after poor form by paceman Junaid Khan.

Add EasternEye As Your Trusted Source
preferred source on google news

More For You

Thierry Henry tells Ballon d'Or critics to 'relax': what he actually said to Yamal, Kate Scott and Kane

Thierry Henry looks on before conducting the coin toss for the Men's Singles match between Alexander Zverev of Team Europe and Alex de Minaur of Team World on day two of Laver Cup 2026 at The O2 on September 26, 2026 in London, England.

Getty Images

Thierry Henry tells Ballon d'Or critics to 'relax': what he actually said to Yamal, Kate Scott and Kane

Highlights

  • Thierry Henry, who co-hosted the 2026 Ballon d'Or with Kate Scott, has defended two jokes that drew criticism, in a video posted to Instagram on Tuesday
  • He asked Lamine Yamal whether the Kopa Trophy was "the one you really wanted to win", and interrupted Scott's pronunciation of the Sócrates Award
  • Henry says he was not "checking" Yamal's ego, and that Scott said "Socrates" on purpose as part of a planned joke
  • Scott replied on Instagram: "100%... no disrespect to speak of"

A night that was meant to belong to Harry Kane ended with its two hosts in a social media row. Thierry Henry has answered the critics with a three-minute video, telling them to "relax", and his co-host, Kate Scott, has backed his version of events.

What did Thierry Henry say to Lamine Yamal at the Ballon d'Or?

When Yamal, 19, collected the Men's Young Talent award, or Kopa Trophy, for the third year running, Henry joked that it was his third one. Then he asked: "But is it the one you really wanted to win?" The question was a reference to the Ballon d'Or, which Yamal would not win. Yamal, who had just said the prize "should have been for" his team-mate Pau Cubarsi, laughed and replied "No", to laughter from the audience, including Barcelona president Joan Laporta.

Keep ReadingShow less