Former Pakistan fast-bowler Shoaib Akhtar has said that pacer Hasan Ali should be dropped from the team if he keeps underperforming.

Hasan — who won the man of the tournament award at the ICC Champions Trophy in 2017 — has lost his magical touch during the recently concluded Asia Cup, where he failed to put up an impressive show during the tournament.

Talking to the media at the Punjab Governor House, Akhtar said if the Peshawar Zalmi pacer is not performing he should be dropped from the side just like Mohammad Amir.

“Hasan is one of main strike bowler for Pakistan, so he should keep his performance up to the mark,” said Akhtar. “If he is not performing than he should be dropped from the team.”

Commenting on the team management’s decision to drop Amir from the team, the Rawalpindi Express believes the step was in the right direction as it will give the 26-year-old a chance to work on his problems.

“I think getting drop from the side is an eye opener for Amir,” said Akhtar. “But he should take it positively and think about his mistakes and work on it. It is now up to him how he is going to make a comeback in the side.”

Giving his views on Amir’s performance since his return to international cricket after serving a five-year ban for his part in the spot- fixing scandal, Akhtar, who represented Pakistan the Men in Green in 46 Tests, 163 ODIs and 15 T20Is, believes the Karachi Kings pacer is not the same bowler as he was when he made his debut for the Green Caps.

“I personally don’t think that he is the same Amir that he used to be when he made his debut,” he said.  “This Amir lacks pace, aggression and most importantly he is scared. I think Amir should forget about his past and try to be what he used to be, aggressive, speedy and accurate.”

Akhar also suggested Amir that he needs to work on his fitness in order to survive at the international level. “I think Amir should focus on his fitness especially and secondly he should increase his pace which I see as the major difference since his return,” he said.