Players fell ill due to hotel confinement, says Hasan Ali

WEB DESK: Pakistani fast bowler Hasan Ali said that the fever affecting several members of the Pakistan cricket team at the World Cup can be attributed to their restricted mobility, as they have primarily been confined to their hotel.

“We can’t go out much. If we do want to go out, we have to go with an entire security team,” Hasan remarked on Thursday.

This World Cup marks Pakistan’s first visit to India in seven years, with just two members of the 15-man squad having previous playing experience in the country.

Given the strained political and diplomatic relations between the two neighboring nations, Pakistan and India only cross paths in international cricket tournaments, avoiding bilateral events.

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Earlier, Pakistan’s participation in the tournament hinged on obtaining security clearance from Islamabad, and even when granted, the government expressed reservations regarding the team’s safety.

While acknowledging the quality of hospitality and care received, Hasan, a 29-year-old with an Indian wife, noted, “We cannot go outside, and we have to notify security before leaving because security is a concern.”

Addressing the health of the 13 available players for the upcoming match against Australia, Hasan Ali stated, “Yes, most of the players have recovered from fever, but when you live in a hotel room, room sickness can occur.”

Earlier in the week, six Pakistani players, including Abdullah Shafique, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, and reserves Mohammad Haris and Zaman Khan, were afflicted with flu and fever.

Pakistan’s supporters from across the border have been largely excluded from the World Cup due to visa complications. Only a handful managed to attend the high-profile clash with India at Ahmedabad’s 132,000-seat stadium, with most being expatriates from the United States and the United Kingdom.

“The number of fans has increased, and with journalists, they are now about 45-47. Yes, we are missing our fans, but that is not in our hands,” Hasan, Pakistan’s top wicket-taker at this World Cup with seven, expressed.