'Hasan Ali Apologized To Me And I Forgave Him' : Younis Khan Sheds Light On The Controversy Between Him And The Pacer

Former Pakistan skipper Younis Khan surprised the cricketing fraternity by stepping down from his position as the national team’s batting coach on the 22nd of June. Younis Khan resigned as the batting consultant ahead of Pakistan’s crucial tour of England, sparking controversy. The nation’s highest run-getter in Tests has finally opened up on the spat with Hasan Ali that many predict as the reason for his departure.

On the 22nd of June, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Younis Khan mutually agreed to part ways as dental treatment and his conflicts with the officials was a major reason behind his resignation. It emerged that Khan had leaked team information and line-ups to his friends in media before matches. Nevertheless, a new angle had come to light.

According to a few sources, Younis Khan and Hasan Ali indulged in a verbal argument during Pakistan’s South Africa tour earlier this year. After the tourists beat the Proteas by nine wickets in Centurion, Khan tried speaking to Ali over an issue outside his domain; however, the fast bowler responded rudely. It said to have left Younis unhappy and he stayed quiet for the remaining part of the tour.

In retrospect, Hasan Ali had allegedly refused to take an ice bath following that T20 fixture, irking Younis Khan. The right-arm seamer declining to follow trainer Yasir Malik’s instructions of going for an ice bath made the batting consultant lose his composure. As a result, bowling coach Waqar Younis had to intervene to solve the matter.

To use that incident as a possible reason for my resignation comes as a surprise to me: Younis Khan

Younis Khan revealed he forgave Hasan Ali after the pacer apologized to him, ending the matter then and there. However, the 43-year old expressed his surprise as the issue had been used as an explanation for his resignation.

“Hasan Ali apologised to me, and I had forgiven him. To play up the Hasan Ali incident (and use it) as a possible reason for my resignation comes as a surprise to me,” Khan told Bol News.

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