Pakistan bolster pace attack after Hasan Ali dropped from Asia Cup squad

Pakistan have added extra ammunition to their fast bowling attack after dropping out-of-form seamer Hasan Ali from their squad for the Asia Cup, which will be held in the UAE later this month.

All-rounder Ali has seen his fortunes decline in white-ball cricket after the highs of the 2017 Champions Trophy in England, where he was player of the tournament. Since 2019, he has picked up 16 wickets in 18 ODIs and 27 scalps in the last 21 T20s. His lowest point came in the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year where he dropped Australia's Matthew Wade during a tense chase in the semi-final. The batsman then hit three successive sixes to seal a spot in the final, which the Aussies won.

Ali has since fallen down the pecking order, with his confidence and sharpness with the ball both affected.

“Hasan has been given a break from international cricket and he has been replaced by Naseem Shah,” Pakistan’s chief selector Mohammad Wasim said on Wednesday. "Naseem is express fast and can give further impetus to the fast bowling department.

“Naseem has not played any international white-ball cricket, but he has demonstrated with the red-ball that he is an attacking option with good pace and controlled swing."

"It is important to take wickets in white-ball cricket. He has that ability," Waseem said of Shah. "He can swing the ball, he has got pace, and if we talk about his temperament, we have seen the evidence in Tests. He is a good replacement for Hasan Ali."

Shah has taken 33 wickets in 13 Test matches, but is yet to make his international debut in the shorter formats.

Australia's Marcus Stoinis, right, and Matthew Wade celebrate winning the T20 World Cup semi-final against Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Thursday,