Hasan Ali claims unique record to join elite list

Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali bounced back from the dismal showing in the 20-20 World Cup and put an absolute bowling masterclass in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh. He picked five wickets for just 51 runs in Chattogram and managed to claim his fifth five-wicket haul in a calendar year. He thus joined Imran Khan, Waqar Younis, Saqlain Mushtaq and Yasir Shah, who have managed to take five fifers in one year.

Hasan has so far picked 37 wickets at an average of 15.40 this year. After coming back into the national team, he has turned a corner. Be it any conditions, the 27-year-old is proving to be a handful. The right-arm pacer has taken two five-fifers each against South Africa and Zimbabwe. Now, he just needs one five-wicket haul to equal Younis’ record of six fifers in a year

Younis leads the list as he has managed to get five fifers in 1990 and 1993. The former Pakistan pacer took a jaw-dropping 55 wickets at a scarcely believable average of 15.23. He took six five-wicket hauls in 1993 and beat his previous record of five fifers in 1990.

Meanwhile, Ali who faced the wrath from social media for his dropped catch of Matthew Wade against Australia, has managed to hit the trollers with his performance. Pakistan management have backed him and the pacer has responded superbly. In the preceding three-match T20 series, Ali bowled well and won the Player of the Match award in the first T20I.

In the first Test against Bangladesh, he continued to torment the hosts. The home team posted 330 and later their bowlers bundled out Pakistan for 286. In the second innings, Bangladesh collapsed and failed to cash in on the lead. At stumps on day three, they have lost four wickets for 39 runs. Ali picked one wicket and Shaheen Shah Afridi picked up three wickets.