Fast bowler Hasan Ali voiced his concerns about the ongoing fever outbreak within the Pakistan cricket team during their World Cup campaign, attributing it to their confinement in the team hotel. “We can’t go out much. If we do want to go out, we have to go with an entire security team,” Hasan stated on Thursday.
Visas for the Pakistan squad were issued just two days before their departure, as their participation in the World Cup depended on security clearance from Islamabad. However, even after obtaining clearance, the government expressed serious reservations regarding the team’s safety.
Pakistan is on its first visit to India in seven years, and only two players from the 15-man squad have prior experience in the country. The strained political and diplomatic relationship between the two neighboring nations means they only meet in international cricket tournaments, not bilateral events.
“Although the hospitality is good and we are well taken care of, we cannot go outside, and we must notify security before going out because security is an issue,” added 29-year-old Hasan, who has an Indian wife.
Hasan Ali also commented on the availability of 13 fit players for the upcoming game against Australia, saying, “Yes, most of the players have recovered from fever, but when you live in a hotel room, room sickness happens.”
On Tuesday, six Pakistan players, including Abdullah Shafique, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, and reserves Mohammad Haris and Zaman Khan, were affected by flu and fever.
Pakistan supporters from across the border have been effectively banned from the World Cup due to visa issues, resulting in only a handful of attendees at the high-profile clash with India, mainly 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,” said Hasan, who is Pakistan’s leading wicket-taker at this World Cup with seven.
The Pakistan team encountered a hostile crowd in Ahmedabad, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to file a complaint with the International Cricket Council, citing the “inappropriate behavior” of Indian fans towards the Pakistani players.