Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali credited Bangladesh Premier League (BPL) for his brilliant performance in the first T20 match against the Tigers at the Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium on Friday.
Hasan Ali claimed 3-22 to help Pakistan win the game by four wickets and go up 1-0 in the three-match series.
In doing so, he to some extent buried the Twenty20 World Cup semifinal nightmare in which he conceded 44 runs in four overs against Australia before dropping the crucial catch of Matthew Wade, who blasted 17 ball-41 not out to knock off Pakistan from the final.
“My performance was not up to the mark in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup but the fans kept supporting me and I am very grateful to them. I worked on my weaknesses as soon as we landed here in Dhaka and this the reward of my hard work,” Hasan Ali said after being the man of the match, adding that “I want
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to dedicate this player of the match to Pakistan cricket fans.”
“I have been here during the BPL and I know it's generally a slow pitch. So I bowled stump to stump and got wickets.”
Even though Pakistan eventually won the game, Hasan Ali praised Bangladesh’s fighting effort as they took the game to last over despite scoring 127-7.
The hosts then reduced Pakistan to 24-4 in sixth over before Fakhar Zaman and Khushdil Shah brought the side back in the contest, combining 56-run. Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz then completed the chase with flurry of sixes.
“Bangladesh is always a competitive opponent in their home conditions and they played excellent today,” he remarked.
“Our team is playing like a unit. Khushdil Shah and Mohammad Nawaz got the opportunity today and both delivered as well.”