In a positive news regarding Pakistan's Hassan Ali, the pacer is unlikely to undergo back surgery after responding well to an online rehabilitation programme, conducted under the supervision of neurosurgeon Asif Bashir, spinal therapist Prof. Peter O'Sullivan and Pakistan Cricket Board's (PCB) medical team.
First complaining of a back problem in September 2019, Hassan was forced to sit out the tour of Australia. The problem didn't still heal properly, however, as the pain resurfaced on the eve of a Quaid-e-Azam Trophy match. The 25-year-old regained fitness ahead of this year's edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
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But then, again, he was diagnosed in April with excessive stress in his lower back by the medical panel of PCB.
In the week gone by, Hassan went through a two-hour only rehabilitation session, where the medical team was quite satisfied with his progress and will continue monitoring him over the next five weeks before the next call of action is taken.
"Hasan Ali picking up injuries around the same area twice in less than a year was not a normal thing," said Dr Sohail Saleem, PCB Director - Medical and Sports Sciences, in a media release.
"Consequently, we consulted some of the best and most experienced specialists and it is heartening to hear their feedback following the opening online rehabilitation session in which Hasan showed no signs of symptomatic regression."
"However, these are early days of his rehabilitation programme and we will continue to monitor his progress for the next five weeks before collectively making future decisions. But one thing is for certain, he is under the treatment of the very best in the business and hopefully, he will return fitter and stronger to competitive cricket without any surgery."
In a responsible gesture, the PCB has decided to offer financial assistance to Hassan during this phase away from the game, after having to leave him out of the central contract list on injury grounds.
"Hasan Ali is one of our assets and heroes of the ICC Champions Trophy 2017 victory. It is the PCB’s responsibility to look after him during these difficult times so that he focuses and works solely on his fitness," chief executive Wasim Khan said.
“Hasan is a young and energetic cricketer who has a lot of cricket left in him. Like most of his followers, the PCB will like to see him regain complete fitness so that he can resume normal services for the Pakistan men’s national cricket team. Till that time, the PCB will provide him financial assistance from the PCB Welfare Fund, which exists exactly for this purpose."
Hassan has played 9 Tests, 53 ODIs and 30 T20Is for Pakistan.
