Afghanistan pace ace Hamid Hassan quit ODI cricket after his team’s three-wicket loss to Pakistan in the World Cup fixture in Leeds on Saturday.
It was not a memorable exit for the 32-year-old, who suffered a hamstring injury while bowling his second over and could not take the field thereafter.
“I was looking forward to winning the game for the team. I was playing my last ODI and in a very good mood,” a dejected Hassan said.
Before he took the field, his team-mates gave him a standing ovation, but he had to hobble off the field and watch his team lose again.
READ| Afghanistan vs Pakistan: Interactive match facts, stats and analysis
“I was very excited and pumped up. I bowled very well in the first over and wanted to keep going but I feel something is broken inside of my hamstring.”
With Hassan out of the attack, Naib introduced himself to the attack and conceded 18 runs — which eventually turned things Pakistan’s way.
“I felt very emotional because the team missed me a lot and the ball was also reversing. The situation would have changed,” Hassan said.
Even Naib admitted that Hassan’s absence hurt Afghanistan’s chances against Pakistan.
In June 2007, the right-arm seamer Hassan became the first Afghanistan cricketer ever to play at Lord’s and he took a wicket for 23, representing MCC against a select Europe XI.
Hassan claimed 59 wickets in 38 ODIs in his decade-long international career.
While he ended his ODI career, Hassan plans to play T20 cricket for another couple of years, “if body permits…”
Comments
SHARE