- PCB to provide financial assistance to the fast bowler till he returns to competitive cricket
- Urdu version of the media release is attached here
Lahore, 8 June 2020: 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 Benevolent 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.
Note to Editors:
- In the CEO’s quote (second para, fourth line), it should be have PCB Benevolent Fund instead of PCB Welfare Fund. This has been corrected and the updated quote now reads as: “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 Benevolent Fund, which exists exactly for this purpose.”
- As per Article 2(f) of the PCB Benevolent Fund, Hasan Ali is eligible as he has been playing international cricket for, at least, four years
- Article 9 of the PCB Benevolent Fund policy was applied in Hasan Ali’s case, which reads as: “The Committee from time to time can request the CEO to make exceptions to the policy where exceptional scenarios/circumstance and/or needs arise. The CEO may, if they so deem fit, choose to provide financial assistance to needy individuals even where an application has not been filed and/or approve a financial amount over and above the limit prescribed in Clause 9.1 of the Policy. The CEO shall be authorized to approve policy exceptions up to Rs. One Million per case. The Chairman PCB shall be authorized to approve policy exceptions over and above Rs. One Million”.
