Pakistan pacer, Hasan Ali, has unveiled a strategic shift for the national cricket team, expressing caution about discussing on-field plans in Urdu in the presence of Usman Khawaja in the upcoming three-match Test series against Australia.
In a recent interview, Hasan claims that Khawaja allegedly shared game strategies of the Men in Green with the Australian team during a match in Karachi as he understands Urdu.
"Usman bhai is familiar with Urdu, but after he leaked our strategies to the Australia cricket team in Karachi, we've become more cautious. We'll ensure not to discuss plans in Urdu in front of him to keep our strategies confidential. We'll move a bit farther away from him to strategize for the game," Hasan stated.
Hasan shed light on the challenges of the tour, highlighting the toughness of Australian conditions, especially the bouncy tracks that provide extra bounce.
"It's not just Pakistan; all South Asian teams find it challenging to take 20 wickets on Australian tours. The pitches in Australia differ from those in other cricketing nations, and the local players' familiarity with their conditions often poses problems for visiting squads," he said.
He also commended Cummins for his excellence in all three formats, and also drew a parallel between Cummins and Pakistan's own Shaheen Afridi as skillful bowlers who understand the art of bowling with new and semi-new balls.
"Pat Cummins stands out as the best bowler. His excellence in all three formats is commendable. Both Shaheen Afridi from Pakistan and Pat Cummins from Australia are skillful bowlers who understand the art of bowling with new and semi-new balls," the pacer said.
He also expressed optimism about fans turning out to watch cricketing greats during the Australia vs. Pakistan series, especially on Boxing Day, a traditional holiday.
"I believe fans will turn out to watch cricketing greats like Steve Smith, David Warner, Shaheen Afridi, and Babar Azam and support the spirit of good cricket," he concluded.