"Win is a win, no matter who you win against, if we lose to these teams, then we get criticized too": Hassan Ali

[The Bald Eagle]

Hassan Ali shared following thoughts in his post match presser after the 1st T20I against Bangladesh:​

On His Comeback and Performance​

"Look, the last 7-8 months have been a very tough time for me because I had a life-threatening injury. After that, when I had a career-threatening injury, then after rehab and coming back, I think I cannot ask for anything more than this. I have been blessed, Alhamdulillah, for the kind of performance I have given. The thing that I am most happy about is obviously my comeback. I took five dismissals, and more than that, I am happy that I took five dismissals for Pakistan. Because of my small contribution, Pakistan won the match today."

On Confidence and Attitude​

"Definitely, when there is a performance, your attitude and confidence are always high. But I think I am one of those players who, whatever the situation may be—be it injury or being out of the team—I always try to stay positive and always find ways to come back and keep trying to improve myself. So I think these are the things that keep me alive, and because of these things, whatever I have keeps coming back again and again, and my performance comes again and again."

On Consistency and Performance Fluctuations​

"Talking about performances, it's up and down—many great players in the world have had fluctuating performances. I know, and we know, that whatever the performance is now, we should give that in every game. Because of that, people see it, and because of that, players are recognized."

On Playing With Old Friends and Team Bond​

"Secondly, after six years, we have played together. All of them are our friends. But obviously, we have a very good bond, which we call the 'Roti Group.' After six years, we have tried a lot. We have also talked among ourselves about how to come back. So I think after six years, playing together is a different feeling which I cannot describe in words—to come back, take five wickets, and then make the team win."

On Future and World Cup Aspirations​

"Regarding the 2026 World Cup, sir, I am not someone who thinks long term. I really want to play a World Cup and I really want to win the World Cup for Pakistan. But let's see, this is still an in-between series. After this series, I am going to play the Blast, and then there is a series after that. So let's see if my performance continues like this and if the team needs my contribution—why not?"

On Coaching and Bowling Plan​

"Ashley is our new coach, and we are talking so that he can get to know us and we can get to know him. The discussion is such that whenever new management or a new player comes, communication between management and players continues. The plan was very simple: just target your areas and use your variations wisely. So I think that is what I did. It was a simple plan, and the plan was executed well. What else do you want? When you execute your plan, you get success."

On Pressure Before the Match and Fan Support​

"Comeback is never easy, and I have gone through this. The low backs that I've done are the low backs that I've done. But if you believe in your process, your skills, and yourself, then nothing is difficult. I adopted that very mindset. Yes, there are always butterflies, but the moment I bowled the first ball, everything became normal. Thank you to all the fans—I think because of the fans, we are here. The fans are my family, and I am always grateful and thankful to those who have supported me through my ups and downs. They call me 'generator.' I am very happy. Keep supporting me and obviously Pakistan."

On Dedication of His Performance​

"Obviously, I would dedicate this performance to my family—my wife and my two children who were with me during this difficult time. Then obviously Iftikhar Bhai, the physio; Shayar's physio; Saboor Bhai; and the most important dedication I will give is to myself because of the amount of hard work I have done. I think I should give credit to myself as well."

On His Hairstyle Change​

"There is no special reason behind this. Since I was in England, I had undergone surgery, so all my focus was on rehab. Secondly, I like it because I have always wished for this. Even before this, I had kept long hair once in 2021, but then I got it cut off. I dropped a catch and said, 'Get your hair cut quickly.' So there is no reason. The main reason is that I like it very much, and when I get fed up with it, I will get it cut."

On Importance of Today's Performance​

"Today's match was very important for me, and this is what I thought when I came back from the hotel—even last night before going to sleep, I thought that I want to perform for Pakistan. The way you have talked about it, you should perform in domestic cricket, perform in PSL, perform anywhere. I think that is the way to get back into the Pakistan team. I don't want to say much here, but it was very important for me because there was a slight tag on me that I am only a red-ball bowler. So I think that in the time I got due to my injury, I have improved a lot and I will continue to maintain the same. In this respect, the important thing for me was that I did not want to remain a bowler of only one format. So I think this was a great thing for me, and I am very humble and grateful that Allah has given me so much courage to be what I am today and to perform for Pakistan."

On New Team Setup and Playing Style​

"Massive was very clear, and obviously it is a new setup in white-ball cricket. The captain has also changed. You might have seen many new faces in the playing XI. So the management has also obviously changed. The simple plan was that we have to play modern-day cricket. I know you guys might have gotten bored with this word—modern-day—but obviously, if you want to win any mega tournament or series, you have to be better than those teams scoring 200 runs today. Given the kind of pitches and small boundaries in T20, 200 is a par score. We have also seen in PSL this year that 200 runs have been scored more than last year. So the plan is very clear: the positive intent is to play. Because of that plan, the same message—credit goes to the whole team—was listened to well and utilized. Even though in two overs they took two wickets, we still made 201 runs. So I think if we keep hold of these things and play with this approach, then Inshallah, you will see the Pakistan team flying, Inshallah."

On Workload Management and Rotation Policy​

"This is in their plan, and this discussion has definitely taken place with me, the team management, Mike, and our captain Salman Maan Ali Agha. We will definitely have a rotation policy and see how we can keep our fast bowlers especially fresh. So let's see in the future how we can utilize what we have. I think this can happen only when you have a strong bench, and to make the bench strong, you will have to carry the same 15 boys, those same 20 boys. It is not like you take a tour in business class and then say bye-bye to whatever happens after that."

On Team Morale and Management​

"We also realize that our fans are a little angry with us. So we had a very clear meeting yesterday afternoon regarding what kind of cricket we have to play and how we have to bring the fans to our side. So I think you must have seen today that with positive intent—if you talk about batting, bowling, even apart from my bowling, other bowlers have also bowled very well. Shadab got man of the match, and the kind of fielding that has been done. So I think the intention, the positive intent, is visible. We should carry this intention because I am saying that we should do it. Obviously, we are the ones playing for Pakistan and we have to win the matches."

On Winning Against Different Teams​

"Win is win, no matter who you win against. I think victory feels very good. If we lose to these teams, then we get criticized too. So I think win is win. Overall, we have dominated. I'm not going to say that that team is a lower-ranked team and this is that one, and we also had new boys. But for me, if you ask me, what matters most is your intent—how you take what is there. Because we had lost to the USA also. So if we win against them, people say that this is a small team; if it loses, then the criticism starts. So win is win, and I think we should appreciate that."

 

[sweep_shot]

Win against weaker sides can give you a winning momentum. Losing to weaker sides is very demoralizing.

 

[emranabbas]

The previous lot were losing against the likes of USA and Afghanistan

 

[mmkextreme_1]

What life-threatening injury did he have?

 

[The Bald Eagle]

A win is a win, but it's wrong to equate all. Just take the example of India against Australia in Tests at home and abroad.

 

[Sachin fan]

A win is a win, but it's wrong to equate all. Just take the example of India against Australia in Tests at home and abroad.

You mean the same india which has the best records in australia of all touring teams since the 2000s? That's your go to example?

Lol there are genuine teams which have good home but bad away records against australia, india is not one of them.

 

[Rajdeep]

A win is a win, but it's wrong to equate all. Just take the example of India against Australia in Tests at home and abroad.

India's last 3 test series in Australia - India 2 : Australia 1

Australia's last 3 test series in India - India 3 : Australia 0

 

[Sachin fan]

India's last 3 test series in Australia - India 2 : Australia 1

Australia's last 3 test series in India - India 3 : Australia 0

Yep, using india as a home and away disparity in australia is one of the most comical comparison I have ever seen. India has been the best touring side in australia for over 2 decades now.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

What life-threatening injury did he have?

I think he meant career threatening.

 

[BouncerGuy]

TBH, Hassan is right. We would have criticised the same team had they lost this game, but now that the team has won, we should appreciate them. Pakistan was having a pretty bad time in this sport and this win is a fresh breath of air.

Hassan ali's performance was top notch. But he should work on his fielding. Boy is still poor in that area.

 

[Croma]

I’m not even a big fan of Hasan Ali, but it’s unfair how only negative threads about him keep getting attention. What about the times he plays well or says something sensible?


Also, what a person says shouldn’t be the only thing that matters. Not every player is trained to speak like a professional in front of the media. Some might not know how to say things the right way, but that doesn’t mean their intentions are wrong. Judge him more by what he does on the field, not by one or two lines in an interview.

 

[Hitman]

Win is a win ... true! You only play against whom you are put against.

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

What was good to see from these players was the was intent and the run rate being close to 10 for most of the innings despite loosing wickets.

The result just amplifies the confidence of playing this style.

Had Fakhar and Saim got going the score could of been anything.

Abbas Afridi should be given the last 2 games with Rauf rested.

He should of been rested for this series anyway.

 

[Chip32]

I’m not even a big fan of Hasan Ali, but it’s unfair how only negative threads about him keep getting attention. What about the times he plays well or says something sensible?


Also, what a person says shouldn’t be the only thing that matters. Not every player is trained to speak like a professional in front of the media. Some might not know how to say things the right way, but that doesn’t mean their intentions are wrong. Judge him more by what he does on the field, not by one or two lines in an interview.

Not a fan as well, but looking back he's been Pakistan's most impactful fast bowler since 2015 and I think that speaks to the pitiful standards and talent in the country. Was our best player in the Champions trophy, won us two tests at home against SA etc. those are probably the teams biggest achievements the last 15 years.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Yep, using india as a home and away disparity in australia is one of the most comical comparison I have ever seen. India has been the best touring side in australia for over 2 decades now.

Just count how many of your legends retired because of the BGT 2024/25...and what did India achieve by defeating Australia in last BGT?? Surprise no surprise they lost to Aus in the 2023 WTC final

Anyway win is a win

 

[Hellion]

Just count how many of your legends retired because of the BGT 2024/25...and what did India achieve by defeating Australia in last BGT?? Surprise no surprise they lost to Aus in the 2023 WTC final

Anyway win is a win
View attachment 155012

And they retired despite winning a Test in Australia. Now look at certain guys who have been whitewashed by BD at home and lost to Warrican on an all time tampered pitch and still refusing to retire

 

[The Bald Eagle]

And they retired despite winning a Test in Australia. Now look at certain guys who have been whitewashed by BD at home and lost to Warrican on an all time tampered pitch and still refusing to retire

They got embarrassed at home just like India got against New Zealand...but the only difference is the Indian team managed to bully BD at home and got bullied abroad against stronger teams.

Moral of the story as Hassan Ali said a win is a win....but I would add the opposition matters

 

[Hellion]

They got embarrassed at home just like India got against New Zealand...but the only difference is the Indian team managed to bully BD at home and got bullied abroad against stronger teams.

Moral of the story as Hassan Ali said a win is a win....but I would add the opposition matters

India got bullied once. PAK has been getting bullied for 4 years at home and let's not even talk about SENA tours.

That 1 Test India won in Australia is worth more than 30 years of PAK tours to Australia

 

[KhanNn]

I'm not going to lie but I think he's a terrible bowler. He regularly gets smashed out by any good player.

 

[Sachin fan]

Just count how many of your legends retired because of the BGT 2024/25...and what did India achieve by defeating Australia in last BGT?? Surprise no surprise they lost to Aus in the 2023 WTC final

Anyway win is a win
View attachment 155012

That wasn't your original point. You weirdly used india as a comparison of home and away vs australia when India is the BEST touring team in australia for nearly 3 decades.

First decide if you are talking about home away or senior players retirement after getting old or WTC final. They are all completely different things.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Hassan had a decent PSL and that is why he is back in the national side. If shadab and naseem can make it, why not hassan. He has proved his selection right with a 5-fer.

he needs to work on his fielding, though. Cannot be dropping easy catches in crunch situations every time.

 

[ravisurya]

Yep, using india as a home and away disparity in australia is one of the most comical comparison I have ever seen. India has been the best touring side in australia for over 2 decades now.

And this coming from the supporter of a team which has not even have a drawn test in Australia since ages. Anyway some people are are obsessed with India.