Hasan Ali eyes more awards for Pakistan after ICC honour

Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali, is not satisfied after being awarded the ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year, as he eyes further honours for his country.

“Thank you my fans and I hope to win more honours for my country. Keep supporting me and Pakistan Team Shukriyaa Pakistan,” posted Hasan on social media.

“I am very happy for being awarded the ICC’s Emerging Cricketer of the Year award, I would like to thanks my family and friend as well as my team-mates,” said Hasan in a video message on Thursday.

The fast bowler especially congratulated Pakistan cricket bowling coach Azhar Mehmmood, for his guidance.

Thank you my fans and I hope to win more honours for my country. Keep supporting me and Pakistan Team #Shukriyaa Pakistan 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/GyxbxvMQog

— Hasan Ali (@RealHa55an) January 18, 2018

Although the 23-year-old made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2016, it was last year when he really took the cricketing world’s attention. Pakistan’s maiden ICC Champions Trophy triumph propelled Hasan into millions of living rooms. He took 13 wickets in the tournament, earning the Player of the Series award in the process.

Despite playing in unfamiliar English conditions, he took four more wickets than any other bowler at an average of just 14.69 and an unsurpassed economy rate of 4.29.

Since those headline-grabbing feats, Hasan has shown that he is far more than a one-tournament-wonder. He sustained his brilliance, claiming 45 wickets in 18 ODIs across 2017 at an average of 17.04.

He took five-wicket hauls against Australia, West Indies and Sri Lanka and by November he had become the quickest Pakistan player to reach 50 ODI wickets, in just 24 matches. Hasan finished the year as the number one-ranked bowler in the ICC ODI bowling rankings.

His startling progress is shown by the fact that he began 2017 in 75th place. He took 426 days to reach the number one ranking – a feat bettered by just two others.