Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali has accused the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) of showing favoritism towards young opener Saim Ayub, particularly in handling his rehabilitation after an injury ruled him out of the ICC Champions Trophy 2025. Hasan, a key figure in Pakistan’s 2017 Champions Trophy triumph, expressed frustration over what he described as “VVIP treatment” given to Ayub, which he claims other injured players, including himself in the past, did not receive.
Ayub, who impressed with strong performances in Australia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa—scoring consecutive ODI centuries in South Africa and a T20 hundred in Zimbabwe—suffered an ankle injury during the South Africa tour. The injury has sidelined him for 10 weeks, forcing him into rehabilitation in England. His absence has disrupted Pakistan’s top order, leading to an out-of-form Babar Azam being pushed to open alongside Fakhar Zaman in the tri-series against South Africa and New Zealand, where Babar has struggled to meet expectations.
Speaking on the Ultra Edge podcast, Hasan voiced his disappointment, drawing comparisons to his own injury experience in 2020. He questioned why the PCB treated Ayub differently from other players, including himself.
“Saim Ayub is injured. He is the player of your team. Wasn’t I a member of the team in 2020? If another player gets injured, won’t he be a member of the team? Does he play for India?” Hasan remarked.
Despite his criticism, Hasan wished Ayub a speedy recovery but cast doubt on whether the board would continue to offer similar treatment in the future.
“You’re giving VVIP treatment to Saim Ayub. If someone gets injured in the future, would you give him the same treatment? No, you won’t. So, what have you done here?” he added.
Hasan, who has not played ODIs for Pakistan since the 2023 World Cup and was overlooked for the Champions Trophy squad, emphasized that such preferential treatment raises concerns about consistency in player management.
“May God give him health and fitness, and may he win a lot of matches for Pakistan. But every rise has a fall. If Saim Ayub gets injured again, will they treat him the same? No, they won’t.”
Hasan’s comments have added fuel to the ongoing debate about PCB’s handling of players and injuries, highlighting concerns about fairness and transparency in team management.
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