Who is Pakistan cricket team's new teenage sensation Mohammad Hasnain?
Sri Lanka went on to beat Pakistan in the first T20I at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore by 64 runs to gain a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. But a new star was born on Saturday and Pakistan will take heart from it. 19-year-old pacer Mohammad Hasnain claimed a hat-trick for Pakistan. Here we look at the promising bowler.
Playing in just his second T20I, the promising pacer took a hat-trick and finished with figures of 3/37. Hasnain removed Bhanuka Rajapaksa (32), Dasun Shanaka (17) and Shehan Jayasuriya (2) off successive deliveries to achieve this feat. At 19 years and 183 days, Hasnain became the youngest to claim a hat-trick in T20Is, besides being the second Pakistani to achieve the feat.
His efforts might not have resulted in victory yesterday, but how exciting is Mohammad Hasnain? 💪
— ICC (@ICC) October 6, 2019
19 years old and playing just his second T20I, he breached the 90mph barrier to claim the second T20I hat-trick by a Pakistani 🔥#PAKvSL pic.twitter.com/akiR4Yw8xx
Hasnain, who was named in Pakistan's 2019 World Cup squad, made his first-class debut last year, playing for Pakistan Television in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy. He made a name In Pakistan Super League 2019 after taking 12 wickets at 17.58 while bowling with serious pace. He impressed after exceeding the 140kph-mark consistently. He made his international debut on March 24 in an ODI against Australia.
Hasnain is the first fast bowler to come from Hyderabad in Pakistan. While growing up, he used to play tape-ball cricket. Hasnain represented his country at U-16 and U-19 levels before being signed as a replacemeny player by the Quetta Gladiators in PSL 19. He cashed in on the opportunity and impressed largely. He also bowled the fastest ball (151kph) for the title winners.
The youngster saved his best for the biggest stage in the PSL. He ended up taking 3/30 in the final against Peshawar Zalmi. Hasnain was also named man-of-the-match and was the first Pakistani to win the award in a final of the tournament's four-year history.
He has played five ODIs for Pakistan and two T20Is. His average and strike-rate are on the higher side and he is also wayward at times. But this is just the start. He has the pace and just needs to execute his line and and length. One expects Hasnain to make rapid strides for Pakistan in time to come. He is a sheer talent.
