The roar came not from the crowd alone, but from Hasan Ali himself. In Cardiff, during the 2017 Champions Trophy semi-final, Pakistan’s fast-bowling tradition found a new face. Hasan, broad smile flashing, arms stretched wide in his trademark celebration, had just claimed another wicket with the kind of precision that turns games on their head. For Pakistan fans, it was a sight both familiar and fresh, the raw energy of a young pacer carrying forward a legacy of quick bowlers, but with a personality entirely his own. That moment crystallised what Hasan Ali would come to represent: exuberance, impact, and a knack for seizing the stage when his team needed him most.

Born in July 1994 in Mandi Bahauddin, Punjab, Hasan Ali’s rise to cricketing prominence was anything but ordinary. From humble beginnings in a small town, he carved his way into the national setup through sheer perseverance. His early cricket revolved around local tournaments, where his skiddy pace and relentless energy made him a standout. When Lahore’s selectors spotted him, it marked the start of a journey that would take him from regional pitches to the grandest stages of world cricket.

Hasan’s early domestic career was steady rather than spectacular. He made his first-class debut in 2013 for Sialkot and, over time, began to refine his game, shortening his run-up, increasing his intensity, and perfecting the art of taking wickets in bursts. Coaches noted how he wasn’t the tallest or the fastest, but his accuracy and skiddy action made him difficult to line up. More importantly, Hasan was a bowler who relished pressure.

By 2016, Hasan Ali had broken into the Pakistan team, debuting in ODIs against Ireland. His initial spells were promising, but it was in 2017 that he truly arrived on the international scene. During the ICC Champions Trophy in England, Hasan was the heartbeat of Pakistan’s unexpected triumph. He ended as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 13 wickets at an astonishing average of 14.69, including match-winning spells in the semi-final against England and the final against India. For his efforts, he was named the Player of the Tournament. That campaign not only etched his name in Pakistan cricketing folklore but also confirmed him as one of the premier white-ball bowlers in the world.

But beyond the raw numbers, Hasan Ali’s identity is built on moments. The celebration that became his signature —a leaping roar followed by arms flared wide —became symbolic of Pakistan’s fighting spirit. Fans mimicked it in grounds across the world; children in Lahore and Karachi adopted it on tape-ball pitches. That sense of theatre, combined with his knack for breakthroughs, made him a fan favourite.

Of course, Hasan’s journey has not been without setbacks. Injuries, particularly recurring back and shoulder problems, forced him out of the side for extended periods between 2019 and 2020. During that time, questions were raised: could his body withstand the demands of being Pakistan’s frontline pacer? Critics feared he might go the way of many promising quicks before him, flashes of brilliance cut short by fragility. Yet Hasan’s return in 2021 was nothing short of inspirational. Against South Africa in Rawalpindi, he produced a stunning 10-wicket haul in the match, his first five-wicket haul in Tests, which carried Pakistan to victory. That comeback reasserted his place as a central figure in Pakistan’s bowling attack.

Franchise cricket has also been a significant chapter in his career. With Peshawar Zalmi in the Pakistan Super League, Hasan Ali became a household name. His consistency in the PSL, particularly in the 2019 season, where he ended as the tournament’s leading wicket-taker with 25 scalps, cemented his reputation as one of the best domestic T20 bowlers. Later, his move to Islamabad United brought fresh challenges, but the crowds continued to chant his name. His stints in overseas leagues, from county cricket in England to T20 leagues in the UAE, expanded his experience and showcased his adaptability.

Hasan’s story is not just one of wickets and numbers, but of personality. He is known as a lively presence in the dressing room, the kind of player who keeps spirits high even in tough times. Teammates have often mentioned his infectious energy, with Babar Azam once noting, “Hasan brings life to the team. He makes pressure situations lighter, and that’s a gift.”

What makes Hasan particularly compelling is his place in the continuum of Pakistan fast bowling. He is not Shoaib Akhtar with raw pace, nor Wasim Akram with unplayable swing. Instead, Hasan embodies relentlessness: skiddy pace, sharp movement, deceptive changes, and the courage to bowl the tough overs. In many ways, he represents the modern fast bowler, not always about sheer speed, but about adaptability, resilience, and theatre.

Off the field, Hasan’s journey has been marked by personal growth. His marriage in 2019 to Samiya Arzoo, an Indian national, drew media attention and showed a softer side of a cricketer known for aggression on the field. The birth of his daughter further solidified his resolve, and he has often spoken about how family responsibilities fuel his determination to succeed.

Hasan Ali’s career, like his celebration, is about more than just wickets. It’s about energy, belief, and resilience. It’s the story of a boy from Mandi Bahauddin who carried his town’s hopes to global stages, roared his way into fans’ hearts, and reminded the cricketing world that Pakistan’s pace battery never runs dry. And as long as he keeps charging in, arms spread wide in triumph, that roar will echo, not just as a celebration, but as a symbol of Pakistan cricket’s enduring heartbeat.

(As of August 2025)