Karachi: The new pace sensation, Mohammad Hasnain is thrilled about the attention he is getting and the talk of his inclusion in the national team, however the lanky right-arm paceman is not looking far ahead.
“I somewhat lived up to expectations and I am obviously very happy. The credit goes to Quetta Gladiators’ management which kept faith in me”, Mohammad Hasnain told this correspondent from Dubai.
Mohammad Hasnain caught everyone’s attention when he bowled a swift delivery (over 150 kph) in only his second PSL4 game on Friday, however the youngster doesn’t look in a rush to break into the national team.
“Right now I am only focusing on the game at hand. It’s my dream to represent Pakistan but I am not thinking about it at the moment”, said Hasnain, a fan of Waqar Younis, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami.
The 18-year old, hailed from Hyderabad, represented Pakistan U16 team on the tour of Australia about four years ago. On that tour, former Australia captain Steve Waugh praised Mohammad Hasnain and Shaheen Shah Afridi as good prospects, however an injury put breaks on Hasnain’s progress. He was kept at the National cricket academy in Lahore for rehabilitation.
The former U-19 star made his first-class cricket debut, from Pakistan Television, last year and later played a local T20 tournament in Karachi – Karachi Premier League – to catch the attention of the Quetta Gladiators’ management.
Hasnain, 18, was on the verge of making his PSL debut last season – for Islamabad United – however he missed the opportunity due to an injury.
“I knew I can bowl fast however crossing the 150-kph mark wasn’t on my mind.”, Mohammad Hasnain said
“The Quetta Gladiators’ management gives confidence to me and the presence of a legend like Viv Richards around has had a great impact on the entire outfit”, Muhammad Hasnain concluded.