Hasan Ali takes image with the group. — Reporter
BIRMINGHAM: Pakistan’s tempo ace Hasan Ali wreaked havoc and recorded his identify into the historical past books with a scintillating efficiency for the Birmingham Bears.
In simply his second look of the 2025 T20 Blast, the right-arm quick bowler ripped by way of Derbyshire Falcons with career-best T20 figures of 6 for 23 — the most effective bowling return ever by a Bears bowler within the historical past of the event — main his staff to a thumping win and turning Edgbaston right into a carnival of cricket and celebration.
“Actually, there was a plan,” he revealed. “I spoke with Tom Latham (New Zealand Test captain) after my second wicket. We spotted the batsman standing deep on the leg side, and I said I’d go for the yorker. I did, and it worked. And after that, I just ran away like a burnt angel and did my celebrations. I think at the end of the day it’s all about the fans. We are playing for the fans and, it won’t be wrong if I say my fiver is for those fans”.
Hasan’s infectious power and trademark celebration, arms outstretched and a roaring dash, lit up the stadium and introduced smiles throughout a whole bunch of Bears’ followers current on the bottom.
“I think, my celebration is something which pumps up the crowd and gives them energy too. Obviously, we are playing for the crowds, and, I feel like we are entertainers. We entertain with our skills and with our attitude. We entertain people with even the celebrations”.
“So I’m one of those who love to do a celebration for the crowd and, obviously, for the team as well. And, the team loves to see my celebration, and I’m very happy to be able to edit a couple of times today”, he added additional.
Hasan shouldn’t be the primary Bear’s participant to get a hat-trick, earlier than him South African leg spinner Imran Tahir additionally achieved this feat. He too had a particular model of celebration. Which in Hasan’s opinion is unmatchable.
“I can never match Imran Tahir’s celebration—he runs miles!” he laughed. “But for me, cricket is about entertainment. The crowd gives us energy, and we give it back. That’s our job.”
“We entertain with our skills and with our attitude. We entertain people with even the celebrations. We know T20 is all about entertainment even ‘The Bazball’ in Test cricket is all about entertainment now. And it’s not only the cricket, whether you’re playing football or any other game people love, they come to watch you and to be entertained”.
The 30-year-old has loved a outstanding resurgence in latest months. After impressing within the Pakistan Tremendous League the place he completed among the many high wicket-taker of the event for Karachi Kings, that earned him a recall to the nationwide T20 aspect for the sequence towards Bangladesh.
Now, along with his show-stopping efficiency for the Bears, he’s proving why he stays a world-class menace in white-ball cricket.
“This is my third T20 five-for,” Hasan stated. “Honestly, I didn’t know it was a record for the Bears, but I’ve been lucky and blessed to perform when it’s needed most.”
With two wins now below their belt after a rocky begin to the marketing campaign, the Bears are clawing their approach again into competition. “We lost our first two games, but now we’re building momentum,” stated Hasan. “We’re aiming for the knockout stage this time – and Inshallah, try to win the trophy.”
Past the numbers and the celebrations, Hasan additionally supplied perception into the demanding life-style of a modern-day cricketer. Having gone from Pakistan’s home T20s to the PSL, then nationwide duties, and now the Blast — all inside two months — he acknowledges the grind, however embraces it.
“The life of an international cricketer is very demanding. You finish one tournament and the next day you’re on a plane and off somewhere else to play. But if you eat well, sleep well, and stay disciplined, your body adjusts,” he stated. “This is what professional cricket demands. Most people would think that is exhausting, but I think, as a professional, this is life..”
He referenced Zimbabwe’s Sikandar Raza, who lately flew from England to Pakistan simply hours earlier than the PSL ultimate and nonetheless delivered a match-winning efficiency.
“That’s the life now,” Hasan stated. “You’re always on the move, but you stay focused. So as a professional, we have to adapt to these things, we have to be very disciplined and we have to take care of our body really well.”
Wanting forward, the Bears face Northamptonshire Steelbacks subsequent—the place Hasan will cross paths with a well-known face, his former Karachi Kings coach, Ravi Bopara. “It’ll be fun playing against him,” he smiled. “The squad’s confident after two wins, and we’re ready.”
And whereas data and outcomes might outline careers, for Hasan, it’s the followers who stay entrance and centre.
“At the end of the day, we play for the people. So this fifer, this hat-trick—it’s for them.”
