PCB to provide financial assistance to Hassan Ali until he returns to competitive cricket

[MenInG]

Fast bowler Hasan Ali has responded positively to the virtual rehabilitation session for his latest back injury and his specialists expect he will not require a surgery and may also return to competitive cricket sooner than expected.

Hasan last week underwent a two-hour online rehabilitation session under the supervision of Lahore-based neurosurgeon Asif Bashir, leading spinal therapist Prof. Peter O’Sullivan of Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board medical team.

The panel was encouraged with the outcomes of the opening session and will continue to closely monitor Hasan’s progress over the next five weeks before deciding next steps.

Dr Sohail Saleem, PCB Director – Medical and Sports Sciences, said: “Hasan Ali picking up injuries around the same area twice in less than a year was not a normal thing. Consequently, we consulted some of the best and most experienced specialists and it is heartening to hear their feedback following the opening online rehabilitation session in which Hasan showed no signs of symptomatic regression.

“However, these are early days of his rehabilitation programme and we will continue to monitor his progress for the next five weeks before collectively making future decisions. But one thing is for certain, he is under the treatment of the very best in the business and hopefully he will return fitter and stronger to competitive cricket without any surgery.”

Meanwhile, the PCB has announced it will provide financial assistance to Hasan till he returns to competitive cricket. The PCB has made the decision after Hasan missed out on a central contract due to the injury.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “Hasan Ali is one of our assets and heroes of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 victory. It is the PCB’s responsibility to look after him during these difficult times so that he focuses and works solely on his fitness.

“Hasan is a young and energetic cricketer who has a lot of cricket left in him. Like most of his followers, the PCB will like to see him regain complete fitness so that he can resume normal services for the Pakistan men’s national cricket team. Till that time, the PCB will provide him financial assistance from the PCB Welfare Fund, which exists exactly for this purpose.”

Hasan was diagnosed with excessive stress in his lower back by the PCB medical panel in late April. Prior to that, Hasan had complained of a back problem in September 2019, which had eventually forced him to pull out of the tour of Australia. He then had a recurrence on the eve of a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match before he regained complete fitness ahead of the HBL PSL 2020, which was postponed on 15 March due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Hasan made his international debut in August 2016 and to date has played nine Tests, 53 ODIs and 30 T20Is.

 

[Mueez]

Good for him.

He was a class bowler in 2017... hopefully he gets his act right.

Miss that “generator-celebration”

 

[TeymurBlake]

Great to hear. On his day he is spectacular. Hopefully he gets his head in the game and works hard. Hopefully Waqar gets him bowling well.

 

[Rana]

I’m afraid he may not be considered in the future unless he returns with some zip and swing, plus become a reliable lower order hitter.

Pakistan has a few 145k+ bowlers now who are all very young and Hassan can become forgotten very soon

 

[ask_analyse_act]

Good for him.

He was a class bowler in 2017... hopefully he gets his act right.

Miss that “generator-celebration”

he should re-invent a new celebration after his comeback, current celebration is not good his lower back stress injury...

 

[Rana]

he should re-invent a new celebration after his comeback, current celebration is not good his lower back stress injury...

Or not use it on every wicket he takes. Might as well apply it on big wickets or when he takes at least a 3fer in normal matches.

He was doing it on every wicket against Zimbabwe

 

[Mueez]

he should re-invent a new celebration after his comeback, current celebration is not good his lower back stress injury...

Or not use it on every wicket he takes. Might as well apply it on big wickets or when he takes at least a 3fer in normal matches.

He was doing it on every wicket against Zimbabwe

True that. I agree with using the celebration with a five-for or after getting a key wicket.

 

[Saj]

Bit strange all this.

Suddenly they decide that they should pay him while he's injured and without a contract.

A friend in the medical profession who knows the background to Hassan's injuries said to me this is a total mess and this money could be "hush money".

 

[Syed1]

True that. I agree with using the celebration with a five-for or after getting a key wicket.

Honestly the only time that celebration really meant something was in the CT when he picked up crucial back to back South African wickets to announce Pakistan's arrival in the tournament. That was euphoric and the celebration really reverberated with the nation. Doing the celebration for every lallo punjo batsman is just over doing it.

 

[Hasan123]

Nice work by PCB.

But not sure if he will return to his level. Some players don't recover from back injuries even with good medical facilities. Imagine with PCB facilities.

 

[hitthestump]

Bit strange all this.

Suddenly they decide that they should pay him while he's injured and without a contract.

A friend in the medical profession who knows the background to Hassan's injuries said to me this is a total mess and this money could be "hush money".

Agreed. It makes no sense to swerve the contract but continue paying him for his rehab.

I don't know of any other player who got this treatment so to single out Hassan, a guy who by all evidences has completely fallen off the trail since 2018, seems inconsistent at best.

Pakistan have no shortage of upcoming pace so this can't be about protecting a special asset either.

Hush money looks pretty damn likely.

 

[Bezli]

Honestly the only time that celebration really meant something was in the CT when he picked up crucial back to back South African wickets to announce Pakistan's arrival in the tournament. That was euphoric and the celebration really reverberated with the nation. Doing the celebration for every lallo punjo batsman is just over doing it.

I agree no need for crazy celebrations if you’re only picking lallo punjo batsmen such as Shikar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Jadeja, Dhoni and many more .
[MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION] You know exactly what I have done here

 

[Mueez]

Honestly the only time that celebration really meant something was in the CT when he picked up crucial back to back South African wickets to announce Pakistan's arrival in the tournament. That was euphoric and the celebration really reverberated with the nation. Doing the celebration for every lallo punjo batsman is just over doing it.

I agree. As [MENTION=2016]Rana[/MENTION] stated he shouldn’t be doing it against Zimbabwe

Should keep the celebration for big wickets.

 

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

Bit strange all this.

Suddenly they decide that they should pay him while he's injured and without a contract.

A friend in the medical profession who knows the background to Hassan's injuries said to me this is a total mess and this money could be "hush money".

The PCB haven't done this for other players whose injuries they may have mismanaged e.g. Azhar Ali and his knee.

Maybe, they might actually be investing in Hassan. If rest and rehabilitation will get him close to his 2017 form, which is absolutely possible, it's a win win for everybody.

The extended time out may actually allow him to work on his batting too, as that's less strenuous on the back compared to bowling.

He can do this without the burden of lack of finances bothering him.

Also, whilst it's not a similar example, the PCB also went the extra mile for Mohammad Amir, by getting him involved in Domestic cricket before his 5 year ban was up. That was because Pakistani fast bowling stocks were in dire need of Amir. Maybe the PCB foresee Hassan Ali as the repurposed bowling all-rounder that Pakistan could really do with.

Clearly I'm speculating here, but the PCB supporting him can only be a good thing if comes back close to effectiveness pre-injury. The rest, unless there's substantive evidence, is hearsay.

 

[Bouncer]

Bit strange all this.

Suddenly they decide that they should pay him while he's injured and without a contract.

A friend in the medical profession who knows the background to Hassan's injuries said to me this is a total mess and this money could be "hush money".

That's exactly what my gut feeling was too when I first saw the news on Twitter few hours ago.

 

[Nasty Naz]

Wait, so players without a contract generally pay for their own rehabilitation and surgeries that may happen?

That's insane.

 

[Savak]

No doubt Hasan Ali's focus has drifted from cricket in the last few years. But an injured player needs to be financially supported and backed by the PCB and not left out on his own to fend for himself. We don't want another Mohd Zahid episode

 

[Saj]

Wait, so players without a contract generally pay for their own rehabilitation and surgeries that may happen?

That's insane.

Yes it's crazy isn't it.

And this is even crazier - contracted players have been going abroad for treatment and paying for their travel and treatment themselves.

 

[cricketAXEpert]

Fast bowler Hasan Ali has responded positively to the virtual rehabilitation session for his latest back injury and his specialists expect he will not require a surgery and may also return to competitive cricket sooner than expected.

Hasan last week underwent a two-hour online rehabilitation session under the supervision of Lahore-based neurosurgeon Asif Bashir, leading spinal therapist Prof. Peter O’Sullivan of Australia and the Pakistan Cricket Board medical team.

The panel was encouraged with the outcomes of the opening session and will continue to closely monitor Hasan’s progress over the next five weeks before deciding next steps.

Dr Sohail Saleem, PCB Director – Medical and Sports Sciences, said: “Hasan Ali picking up injuries around the same area twice in less than a year was not a normal thing. Consequently, we consulted some of the best and most experienced specialists and it is heartening to hear their feedback following the opening online rehabilitation session in which Hasan showed no signs of symptomatic regression.

“However, these are early days of his rehabilitation programme and we will continue to monitor his progress for the next five weeks before collectively making future decisions. But one thing is for certain, he is under the treatment of the very best in the business and hopefully he will return fitter and stronger to competitive cricket without any surgery.”

Meanwhile, the PCB has announced it will provide financial assistance to Hasan till he returns to competitive cricket. The PCB has made the decision after Hasan missed out on a central contract due to the injury.

PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said: “Hasan Ali is one of our assets and heroes of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 victory. It is the PCB’s responsibility to look after him during these difficult times so that he focuses and works solely on his fitness.

“Hasan is a young and energetic cricketer who has a lot of cricket left in him. Like most of his followers, the PCB will like to see him regain complete fitness so that he can resume normal services for the Pakistan men’s national cricket team. Till that time, the PCB will provide him financial assistance from the PCB Welfare Fund, which exists exactly for this purpose.”

Hasan was diagnosed with excessive stress in his lower back by the PCB medical panel in late April. Prior to that, Hasan had complained of a back problem in September 2019, which had eventually forced him to pull out of the tour of Australia. He then had a recurrence on the eve of a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match before he regained complete fitness ahead of the HBL PSL 2020, which was postponed on 15 March due to Covid-19 pandemic.

Hasan made his international debut in August 2016 and to date has played nine Tests, 53 ODIs and 30 T20Is.

Ehsas Programme in action

 

[Nasty Naz]

Yes it's crazy isn't it.

And this is even crazier - contracted players have been going abroad for treatment and paying for their travel and treatment themselves.

It honestly baffles the mind to be quite honest. Every sports league is setup where the team provides the players with proper rehab and medical treatment because teams have an investment in the players and their development.

No wonder so many players fall by the way side if they get injured. I'm sure some just can't afford the expensive treatment, opt for cheapest medical treatment and there you go, career possibly over.

Maybe earlier, with the huge amount of players they had within the system it was possibly hard for PCB to allow that financially but with the massive amount of domestic cuts, I definitely think this is something that should change. If you truly are invested in these players and you wanted them to be invested in Cricket and playing at their best, then invest in their health and development.

 

[Titan24]

Agreed. It makes no sense to swerve the contract but continue paying him for his rehab.

I don't know of any other player who got this treatment so to single out Hassan, a guy who by all evidences has completely fallen off the trail since 2018, seems inconsistent at best.

Pakistan have no shortage of upcoming pace so this can't be about protecting a special asset either.

Hush money looks pretty damn likely.

Not a bad precedent to set to be honest rather should have been part pf PCB rehabilitation process much earlier, if they can continue it with consistency going forward as well. Most international bowlers get injured due to international work load so I personally think its the duty of their employers which in this case is PCB to help them while they achieve full fitness.

Its not about shortage of pacers, thing is in modern day cricket it’s equally important to have some quality on the bench as its on the field. This way better load management of young pacers like Shaheen and Naseem can be done.

This is unlike PCB but that doesn’t necessarily mean hush money, as said it can be a step in the right direction. Not to forget even before this positive news Misbah said when he announced Hasan might not play for 8 months or so that PCB will support him throughout this process which was already unlike what we have seen in past where players were left on their own.

Anyways I have always been of the belief that cricketers which represent Pak at international level are national assets and should be handled in such a way. Better medical, rehabilitation and even grooming systems should be in place so that we dont lose as many careers as we have lost in the past.

 

[Savak]

I hope he isn't cutting corners by avoiding the surgery. If the surgery is vital and if it will make him pain free in the long run, he should go for it no matter how expensive it is. Too many players wreck their career's by not opting for much needed surgeries early on in their careers.