Hasnain replaces Shaheen

Express pacer Mohammad Hasnain will replace injured Shaheen Shah Afridi in Pakistan’s squad for this week’s Asia Cup, the country’s cricket board said on Monday.

Pakistan suffered a major blow at the weekend when Shaheen was ruled out of the Twenty20 tournament in the UAE and the following T20 international home series against England with a knee injury.

The 22-year-old Hasnain will join the squad from Britain, where he has been playing in The Hundred tournament.

He was banned from bowling internationally in January after his action was reported during a stint in Australia’s domestic Big Bash League, but was cleared to return in June after remodelling his action.

The Pakistan squad will reach the UAE later on Monday after winning the three-match one-day international series against the Netherlands.

Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India in their opening match in Dubai on Sunday.