Hasan Ali

Pakistan have produced plenty of fast bowlers with pace, movement and aggression, but Hasan Ali has always brought something different. His energy, infectious celebrations and ability to find wickets at important moments quickly made him one of the most recognisable faces in Pakistan cricket. His rise was rapid, and it was on the biggest stage that he truly announced himself.

Hasan began attracting attention in domestic cricket, particularly during the 2015 National T20 Cup and the following domestic one-day season. His performances earned him a place in the Pakistan setup, and he made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2016. He added Test cricket to his repertoire the following year, but it was in the 50-over format where he made his biggest impact. The defining chapter came at the 2017 Champions Trophy in England. Pakistan had begun the tournament with a heavy defeat to India, but Hasan played a key role in their remarkable turnaround. He finished with 13 wickets, producing important spells throughout the knockout stages as Pakistan went on to beat India in the final and lift the trophy. Hasan was named Player of the Tournament, firmly establishing himself as one of the stars of Pakistan's title-winning campaign.

His rise continued after the Champions Trophy. Hasan kept producing consistent performances, climbed to the top of the ICC ODI bowling rankings and was named the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year. In a matter of months, he had gone from an exciting young seamer to a key figure in Pakistan's white-ball attack. His trademark wicket celebration became part of his identity, with Hasan mimicking a bomb explosion by pumping his arms before spreading them out to represent the blast.

Back, ribs and groin problems began to affect his availability and rhythm, and his progress slowed considerably. By the time the 2019 World Cup came around, Hasan was no longer operating at the level he had reached two years earlier. The following period became one of the more difficult phases of his career, with injuries keeping him away from the international setup for an extended spell. The return gave Hasan fresh momentum, but injuries once again began to interrupt his progress. Fitness issues, coupled with increasing competition for places, made it difficult for him to build a sustained run in the Pakistan side. He also featured extensively in county cricket, plying his trade in England as he looked to keep himself in contention.

Ali toured the Caribbean with Pakistan in 2026 for a two-Test series but did not feature in either match. His stop-start run in the side continued when he was subsequently left out of the squad for the tour of England, leaving him facing another fight to regain his place.