Hasan Ali, a right-arm bowler from Pakistan, has recovered from a dismal performance in the T20 World Cup to once again become a fan favourite in his home country.
In Chittagong on Saturday, Hasan was the mastermind behind Bangladesh’s lower-order batting collapse, taking fast wickets to ensure that a dangerous Bangladesh were confined to 330 runs in their first innings.
By finishing with numbers of 5/51, Hasan Ali not only managed to be the most effective of Pakistan’s bowlers during Bangladesh’s first innings, but he also managed to cement his place in history with some of the finest fast bowlers the country has ever produced.
With his recent five-for, Hasan Ali has tied Imran Khan for the most five-wicket hauls in Test cricket by a Pakistani fast bowler in a calendar year, having previously held the record. Waqar Younis, a former Pakistani fast bowler, holds the record for the most five-fers by a Pakistani fast bowler, having taken six in 1993.
In 1990, Waqar Younis was the only player to take five five-fers in a calendar year. The accomplishment was first accomplished by former captain Imran Khan in 1982, and it was repeated by Hasan Ali this year.
Hasan Ali praised his supporters for sticking with him after a vital lost catch in Shaheen Shah Afridi’s last over of the ICC Twenty20 World Cup semi-final against Australia a few of days earlier.
In the end, Pakistan fell short of a victory against Australia when Matthew Wade, who had been given an opportunity to bat, hit three sixes in his next three deliveries.
“I know you’re all dissatisfied since my performance didn’t live up to your expectations… but [you] aren’t any more disappointed than I am,” Hasan Ali had said on social media a few days before the performance.
“Don’t lower your expectations of me in any way. I want to contribute to [the] Pakistan cricket team at the best level possible, so it’s back to the grindstone for me “He had also added something. “This patch will make me a lot more powerful.”
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