Australian pacer Josh Hazlewood expects to hear some serious concerns from the players about the forthcoming tour of Pakistan and he also admitted the fact that he won’t be surprised if some of his teammates decide to pull out from the tour.
Josh Hazlewood says that he is expecting to hear some serious concerns from the Australian players about the forthcoming tour of Pakistan and he also admitted the fact that he won’t be surprised if some of his teammates decide to pull out from the tour.
Australia is set to play three Tests, three ODIs, and one Twenty20 international in March on their first trip to Pakistan, they’re first since 1998. But there are some concerns regarding the visit of Australian players, a few of them who are not ready to decide yet.
Recently, Pakistan cricket and its fans faced a major blow after New Zealand and England decided not to play in Pakistan citing fears over security, with England after their subsequent security visit to Pakistan, agreed for the tour in 2022 for seven T20Is and three Tests, either side of the T20 World Cup.
“There’s a lot of things in place and there’s been a lot of work in the background…so the trust is quite high there from the players,”
Hazlewood told cricket.com.au.
“But there’d certainly be some concerns from the players and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them don’t make the tour. And that’s very fair. People will discuss it with their families…and come up with an answer and everyone respects that.”
Meanwhile, Hazlewood, who has been part of the squad for the home T20Is against Sri Lanka, admitted to having been frustrated by the lack of game time. The 31-year old suffered an injury during the first Ashes Test and after then he hasn’t featured in Ashes to participate in Australia’s 4-0 victory.
“That carrot was dangling there throughout the whole summer,”
Hazlewood said.
“If I’d had a normal [side strain], a big injury and you know you’re going to be out, then you can deal with it all at once.
“It just kept teasing, kept teasing, I might be able to play this one, I might be able to play that one. I’ve certainly had a typical side strain, where you tear your oblique [muscle], you can’t bowl another ball, and are out for at least six or seven weeks.
“This one was different… the strength came back really quickly, and I could do a lot of things in the gym. It was just bowling, that dynamic movement, that caused a bit of grief. It was an unusual one.”