Wasim Akram: “The more he (Hasnain) stays around the team, the more his confidence and fitness will improve”

Image courtesy of: ESPNcricinfo

Wasim Akram has noted that Pakistan need to keep using pace bowler Mohammad Hasnain in order to witness all the talent he has.

Hasnain made his international debut during the recent five-match ODI series against Australia in the United Arab Emirates, where he took two wickets in three games at an average of 78.

However, in order to see the 19-year-old perform like he did in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), Akram pointed out that Pakistan have to utilise him on a regular basis.

In the PSL, Hasnain stole the spotlight by picking up 12 wickets in seven matches for the Quetta Gladiators at an average of 17.58.

“By holding him back, what do you want to do? Cook him? When I came into the team, I was 17. I hadn’t played any cricket,” Akram was quoted as saying by PakPassion. “When Waqar (Younis) came, he was 18 and had played hardly any first-class cricket. The more he (Hasnain) stays around the team, the more his confidence and fitness will improve. In first-class cricket, his fitness won’t improve.”