DUBAI: Pakistan’s pacer Hasan Ali has been declared as the ICC EmergingCricketer of the Year 2017 for his impressive performance during the pastyear specially the key role he played in winning Champions Trophy for hiscountry.
Although the 23-year-old made his ODI and T20I debuts in 2016, it was lastyear when he really came to worldwide attention in which he finished as theleading wicket-taker at the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy, the ICC said in astatement.
Hasan’s game-awareness, variety and clever changes of pace bamboozledbatsmen during the tournament. Despite playing in unfamiliar Englishconditions, he took four more wickets than any other bowler at an averageof just 14.69 and an unsurpassed economy rate of 4.29.
“Since those headline-grabbing feats, Hasan has shown that he is far morethan a one-tournament-wonder. He sustained his brilliance, claiming 45wickets in 18 ODIs across 2017 at an average of 17.04. He took five-wickethauls against Australia, West Indies and Sri Lanka and by November he hadbecome the quickest Pakistan player to reach 50 ODI wickets, in just 24matches,” the statement added.
He has proved particularly venomous with the bouncer, picking up ninewickets with the delivery last year – more than any other in the 50-overformat.
Hasan finished the year as the number one-ranked bowler in the ICC ODIbowling rankings. His startling progress is shown by the fact that he began2017 in 75th place. He took 426 days to reach the No. 1 ranking – a featbettered by just two others.
Hasan has also been effective in his fledgling Test career, taking sixwickets in two matches so far at an average of 27.33, and he showed hisprowess in the shortest format by claiming the Player of the Match award ina T20I against West Indies last April after returning figures of 2/12 fromhis four overs.
If the previous winners of the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year award areanything to go by, then he is certainly on the right path. Australian fastbowler Josh Hazlewood and Bangladesh left-arm seamer Mustafizur Rahman wonit in 2015 and 2016 respectively and have continued to make their mark atthe highest level.
Hasan held off some stiff competition to claim this year’s award, upagainst the likes of his teammate Shadab Khan, India spinner Kuldeep Yadav,West Indies quick Alzarri Joseph and Australian duo Peter Handscomb andMatt Renshaw. All had standout years, but what set Hasan apart was hisconsistency and performances on the biggest stage at the ICC ChampionsTrophy.