Pakistan’s fast-bowling sensation Hasan Ali wants to become number one in Test bowler after achieving this milestone in One Day Internationals, as the pacer finished as the top-ranked ODI bowler in 2017.
The 24-year-old was phenomenal for Pakistan throughout 2017, as Hasan took the most wickets in ODIs with 45 dismissals, as well as, became the top-ranked fast bowler in the ICC Player Rankings in the One Day cricket, while ICC also named him as the Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2017.
However, he is currently placed at the fourth spot in the ODI ranking. Since making his debut in 2016, the fast bowler has taken 62 wickets in 30 ODIs and 19 wickets in 14 T20Is, and now he sets his goal to become the No.1 ranked Test bowler following his decent outing in the opening day of the first Test against England at Lord’s, where he took four wickets.
According to a report in Business Recorder, Hasan told reporters, “Like I became the number one bowler in One Day Internationals, I want to become number one in Tests too."
On bowling Coach Azhar Mahmood, the fast bowler said, “We had a long meeting, where Azhar Mahmood told us to bowl straight and full lengths. That’s why we got help from the pitch and were successful. There was no need to bowl bouncers because we were getting help from bowling straight and pitching the ball up. It would have made no sense to bowl bouncers. The pitch was fresh so I was just focused on bowling full and straight.”
He is happy with Pakistan’s performance in England on Day 1st of the series opener, saying, “The way the bowlers bowled is there for all to see but after that, the fielders also did well, holding onto catches and the ground fielding was also very good. Abbas Bhai is a very good bowler, and, my role is also to bowl in an attacking manner and to take wickets for the team.”
Pakistan brilliantly bowled out England at 184 in the first innings of the first Test, while the touring side Pakistan ended day one on 50/1 and Hasan is hoping to post at least 300+ on the board.
Hasan signed off by saying, “Our batsmen look to be in really good form so Insha’Allah we’ll try to make 300+ and get them out cheaply once again.”
