"Pace will increase & I will be a better bowler with the new bowling action" : Mohammad Hasnain

[MenInG]

Mohammad Hasnain's ability to bowl at speeds in excess of 150 KpH thrust him into the limelight when he made his debut for Quetta Gladiators in 2019. He debuted for Pakistan later that year and has to date played 26 times for his country, taking 29 wickets. He also became the youngest player to take a T20I hat-trick before a report on his bowling action put an abrupt halt to his career in February 2022. With the ICC now giving him the all-clear after remedial action, Mohammad Hasnain has returned to playing cricket and was signed-up by Worcestershire for a limited number of matches in the 2022 County Championship and will also be part of the Oval Invincibles squad in the 2022 edition of The Hundred.

In an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, Hasnain spoke about the initial shock of having his bowling action reported, the hard-work he has put in to remedy issues with his action, why he feels that the modified action will make him a better bowler, Shaheen Shah Afridi as a role model for up and coming fast-bowlers and his aspirations to represent Pakistan in this year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

PakPassion.net: How difficult was it for you to be told that your bowling action was illegal?

Mohammad Hasnain: To be told that my action was illegal was a huge shock for me. I had never thought about this, and no one had mentioned this issue to me before, and I found it very difficult to believe. I always thought my action was a clean one and there was nothing hidden about it as everyone could see how I was bowling. Regardless of what I thought of it, I decided to accept this problem and work towards remedying the fault. Thanks to the Almighty, everything has worked out fine and I have fixed the problem and been given the all-clear to resume my career.


PakPassion.net: Were there ever any doubts in your mind about your bowling action during the time you were playing international cricket, Pakistan Super League or junior level cricket?

Mohammad Hasnain: There were absolutely no doubts in my mind during the time I was playing for Pakistan or in the various leagues. To me, my action was clean, and I never felt like I was doing anything wrong while bowling which is why the initial report about my action was so shocking for me and I found that to be incredible.


PakPassion.net: How exactly did the ban on your participation in cricket come about?

Mohammad Hasnain: My action was reported by the umpires during the first game of Big Bash League 11. When I had completed a five-game stint with Sydney Thunder and returned to Pakistan ahead of PSL 7, I was asked to undergo a test on my action at the ICC-accredited biomechanics laboratory in Lahore. Whilst the results were being prepared, I began my participation in the PSL and played the first 3 games before I was told that my action had been found to be illegal and on the directions of the PCB, stopped my participation in the tournament from February 2022.

PakPassion.net: Which of your deliveries caused the main problem in terms of your action?

Mohammad Hasnain: The actual issue was mainly related to my slow bouncer. The elbow extension was exceeding the 15-degree limit and even going up to the 18-degree mark as well which was really what was picked up by the umpires and the testing and then reported as well.


PakPassion.net: How did you go about working to fix your action and what was involved in this?

Mohammad Hasnain: Once I was suspended from playing in the PSL, I immediately went about fixing the issue by going to the National High Performance Centre in Lahore where I was asked to work with Umar Rasheed who was assigned to me by the PCB as my bowling coach. What followed next was some hard graft which lasted about 3 months and was very helpful to me in many ways.


PakPassion.net: Do you feel that this change in action will affect your bowling in a negative way?

Mohammad Hasnain: On the contrary. The work I did on my action at the NHPC has proved to be very beneficial in giving me more control on my deliveries and most importantly, as that is my primary weapon, my pace has not diminished at all after these changes. In fact, it is my belief that when I get into rhythm again and play more matches my pace will actually increase and I will be a better bowler with the new bowling action.


PakPassion.net: So would you say you are satisfied with the changes made to your action and are feeling confident about yourself?

Mohammad Hasnain: Absolutely, but I have to say that there haven’t been any big changes made to my action. Essentially my elbow extension which was the cause of the problem has been fixed and in doing so my overall bowling action and the run-up have all become smoother than what they were before. All these changes have given me a lot of confidence that I will be able to bowl even better and of course I am very happy with the whole situation.


PakPassion.net: But surely modifying an action you have been used to since the start of your career must be a difficult change to implement?

Mohammad Hasnain: This was a very tough period for me as getting used to a different action has not been that easy. To give you an idea of what I am talking about consider the fact that the last game I played before my debut for Worcestershire in the County Championship was almost six months ago. During this time, I had to work doubly hard to get my action in order which meant almost 7000-8000 repetitions of my bowling action. This included shadow bowling, bowling with half a run-up and also with a full run-up. All of that required a lot of patience and thankfully I approached all of this in a step-by-step manner which helped me clear my action and also gain much better control on my deliveries.

PakPassion.net: Tell us about your stint at Worcestershire and what you expect to gain from it?

Mohammad Hasnain: To play in County Cricket is a great opportunity for all cricketers and I am particularly happy to be here as I am following the tradition of some legendary Pakistan cricketers. Playing in County Cricket will give me the chance to bowl long spells and most importantly will allow me to put my modified bowling action to the test. This is a great opportunity to not only get used to my action but also to perform well for Worcestershire. In my debut game, I bowled with good control against some excellent batters and it was great to see that I was able to produce some good wicket-taking deliveries as well.


PakPassion.net: The Hundred will present a different experience for you as well?

Mohammad Hasnain: The Hundred will be a great experience for me as it’s a completely new format for me and presents a totally different challenge. I am already getting good experience in the 4-Day games and getting to use my modified action but now with The Hundred, I will have yet another format to assess my action and to learn to bowl with control in this shorter format which is similar to T20 in terms of the pressure on the bowlers. To have experience of both 4-Day games and The Hundred under my belt will be a great gain for me from my stay in England this summer and I am really looking forward to this opportunity.


PakPassion.net: Looking at your international record, are you a little disappointed that you have not played more games for Pakistan?

Mohammad Hasnain: I have been associated with the Pakistan team for a while now but yes, the number of matches I have played has not been that many and that does disappoint me on a personal level. I am hoping that by changing my action and becoming a more effective bowler I will be able to start a new chapter in my career where I will not only play more international cricket and become an established part of the team but also help Pakistan win more games as well. God Willing it is all onwards and upwards for me.


PakPassion.net: What areas of improvement in your bowling have you identified for yourself?

Mohammad Hasnain: I have some specific goals in mind when it comes to improvements that I wish to make to my bowling. To start with, I am looking to improve my run-up and action where I had a problem where my foot would land late at the point of delivery and my body seemed to fall over as well. On this one issue I have worked a lot and also have a more front-on action now rather than a side-on one which I had before.


PakPassion.net: Are you concerned about the fact that you have played just 7 First-class matches to date in a format which is considered to be a true test of a cricketer?

Mohammad Hasnain: This is definitely something which I am paying a great deal of attention to as it's my aim to represent Pakistan in Tests in the future. So, the current stint with Worcestershire in the County Championship where I hope to get good experience of 4-Day games is an important stepping-stone to the ultimate objective of playing Tests for Pakistan. Back home, in the 2021/22 season of the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, I played 4 games for Sindh and wanted to play more but then got busy with the tour of Pakistan by the West Indies. Now this opportunity with Worcestershire has come to me after almost 8-9 months so am very excited about it and I am very keen to make it count because doing well here could make me a good candidate to play Test cricket in the future.

PakPassion.net: There seems to be a healthy competition amongst fast-bowlers with the likes of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Shahnawaz Dahani, Haris Rauf, Hassan Ali and yourself in the mix?

Mohammad Hasnain: This is great news for Pakistan that we have such excellent fast-bowlers. It’s healthy competition. As we are all good friends there is so much to learn from each other, and I am always in touch with them to discuss and share my experiences which I am sure will be beneficial to me in the future.


PakPassion.net: Would you agree that fast-bowling is not just about speed but requires an intelligent approach to get the best results?

Mohammad Hasnain: My philosophy in this matter is simple. I feel that whilst having the ability to bowl in the 140-150KpH range is useful, but what really sets you apart is the control you have on those deliveries. You also need to have a good idea of what sort of ball to bowl to which batter and at what stage of the innings. To judge a batter’s abilities, to know which are his strong and weak points, and to change your tactics against him as needed and to have a plan B, C or D as needed, are the building blocks that make a good and intelligent bowler. This is, where in my view, 4-Day cricket is crucial for my development. The more I play in the red-ball format, the more I will develop my skills and get to control my deliveries and become a thinking and better all-round bowler.


PakPassion.net: What are you plans for the future and your aspirations?

Mohammad Hasnain: I am totally focused on ensuring that I can play as much cricket as I can and to represent Pakistan in all formats. For that to happen, I need to concentrate on my fitness and to learn to bowl better in red and white-ball cricket. If I can do the basics right and learn from my past experiences, I feel that I can become the number one bowler in the world and in doing so, can make a name for myself representing Pakistan.

PakPassion.net: Would you agree that Shaheen Shah Afridi is a role model for young bowlers like yourself?

Mohammad Hasnain: There is no doubt that Shaheen is one of the top bowlers in the world and I really appreciate his skills and look up to him as someone I wish to emulate in terms of what he has achieved for Pakistan. He is playing in all formats and putting in equally good performances without fail. Whether its regular bilateral series or major ICC events, he has put in amazing performances, and this makes him a great role model for our youngsters. A lot of the up and coming fast- bowlers have been inspired by his success and wish to bowl like him. His pace, line and length are immaculate and my advice to anyone wanting to succeed as a bowler in all formats is for them to look up to him. I am in awe of his skills and really appreciate his consistency and how he performs so well at the highest levels of the game.


PakPassion.net: Are you looking forward to representing Pakistan in the upcoming T20 World Cup in Australia, if given the opportunity?

Mohammad Hasnain: God Willing, I will aim to put in some good performances in the upcoming few months and try and make a comeback to the Pakistan team. Playing in the T20 World Cup in Australia would be a dream come true, but I know that I will have to work very hard and put in excellent performances before that tournament so that I can be considered for selection.

[MenInG]

Mohammad Hasnain with 2 wickets on debut today for Worcestershire versus Derbyshire. Video via Worcestershire ccc #Cricket #CountyChampionship pic.twitter.com/Y2Qc2HbAQl

— Saj Sadiq (@SajSadiqCricket) July 25, 2022

[daytrader]

Hoping what he says is true as his pace was what set him apart from other bowlers. Great interview, the time off has done him good as he seems to understand his own game better.

[BunnyRabbit]

Has always been a hard working lad. Based on his interview, I think he has a very good head on his shoulders.

Hopefully he will be able to overcome it all and become a better cricketer.

[Muhammad Saad]

He used the word CONTROL a bit too much in this interview , isn't?

[MenInG]

He used the word CONTROL a bit too much in this interview , isn't?

Yes as seems he is very much aware of this being a big issue in his bowling.

You never know, this action problem may turn out to be a blessing in disguise if it makes him a better bowler.

[shah_1]

He used the word CONTROL a bit too much in this interview , isn't?

That was his biggest before ban, he had no control over line and length. Hopefully he is a better bowler with this new action.

[Fenrir]

His big advantage is that he is young so even if it takes him 18 months to get into top form it is not a problem.Had he been in his late 20s then it would have been an issue.

[Muhammad Saad]

I really liked his stock delivery , good bounce with late away movement , would have created havoc if he had developed properly in those years. Tailor made threatening line for test cricket but instead they tried to develop him in to a T20 bowler without a proper yorker in his arsenal. I wonder why our management thinks totally opposite.

[Stewie]

I was so excited about him and Naseem Shah when they first came on the scene. I thought they had a lot going for them and were better than Haris Rauf.

I still believe so, and its unfortunate Rauf has played so consistently for Pakistan but Hasnain and Shah have not (no offense to Rauf but to me he is a tapia)

[Saj]

I like his positivity in the interview.

He's a sensible lad, not one for hyping himself up or making huge statements.

It's going to be tough for him to get used to the new action and it will take time.

I've always rated him as a bowler and if he can work with the right people and continue to improve, he could be a useful bowler for Pakistan.

[MenInG]

Pakistan pacer Mohammad Hasnain has issued a ‘pace’ warning for batters after successfully remodeling his bowling action.

The 22-year-old was suspended from bowling at the international level after biomechanical testing confirmed his action was illegal. The pacer was reported for a suspect action during a stint with the Sydney Thunder in Australia’s Big Bash Twenty20 league last season.

However, in June, the right-arm pacer was cleared to bowl again in international cricket after remodeling the bowling action.

Speaking to PakPassion, the pacer believes that his new action will help him gain more pace.

“On the contrary, the work I did on my action at the National High-Performance Centre (NHPC) has proved to be very beneficial in giving me more control on my deliveries,” said Hasnain, who played 18 T20Is and eight ODIs for Pakistan.

“Most importantly, as that is my primary weapon, my pace has not diminished at all after these changes,” he added. “In fact, I believe that when I get into a rhythm again and play more matches my pace will actually increase and I will be a better bowler with the new bowling action.”

https://www.samaaenglish.tv/news/400...ng-for-batters

[Titan24]

Good interview with some decent insights into his bowling action, changes and focus to grow as a cricketer in coming years.

[Saj]

Patience is the key here - for Hasnain, for the fans and the selectors.

He simply cannot become a world-beater in the matter of a few matches with his new bowling action.

[MenInG]

Hasnain in the Invincibles XI tonight at The Hundred

[Titan24]

Couple of wickets for Hasnain so far in his 10 balls. Pace in high 80s, touching 89-90 mph

[MenInG]

Couple of wickets for Hasnain so far in his 10 balls. Pace in high 80s, touching 89-90 mph

Wicket of Crawley

[Saj]

The run-up still looks wrong.

The strides are too big and he doesn't look comfortable taking such big strides.

[Saj]

2 for 40 from 15 balls tonight for Mohammad Hasnain in The Hundred for Oval Invincibles against London Spirit.

A real mixed bag.

Some decent deliveries, some awful ones, no-balls too.

Not the best of performances really.

[Firebat]

Have not been paying much attention to his performances since the action re-modelling but I sincerely hope it does not take away from his pace. Losing that at 22 would be a disaster.

[Saj]

Watching him today - consistently between 85 and 88mph.

[MenInG]

Ends up on 0/10 in 10 balls which is amazing.

[Fenrir]

His pace has not been affected by his remodelled action which is good news.He needs to stop bowling no balls and wides.These can be very costly in short formats.If he can tighten his line and length then he can be a decent bowler.

[Saj]

Good opportunity for him at the Asia Cup.

I still feel he has some technical issues with his run-up and am surprised none of the coaches he has worked with haven't noticed.

[Deewana Mastana]

Good opportunity for him at the Asia Cup.

I still feel he has some technical issues with his run-up and am surprised none of the coaches he has worked with haven't noticed.

There aren't any coaches that's what the issue is. His run up needs shortening a little bit as he's losing momentum when he approaches the crease. Can generate a bit more pace with more momentum and at the point of release.

[Saj]

There aren't any coaches that's what the issue is. His run up needs shortening a little bit as he's losing momentum when he approaches the crease. Can generate a bit more pace with more momentum and at the point of release.

Yes, even watching him at The Hundred tournament it's pretty clear that the run-up isn't quite right and needs some adjustments.

[daytrader]

Bowling at 145+ in Dubai. Looks like he hasn't lost any pace with the new action

[RedwoodOriginal]

Action looked clean and the pace was very good. Can't understate the importance of that Pandya wicket either.

Needs to refrain from bowling too many bouncers but all things considered I thought he bowled very well on a fairly batting-friendly pitch.

[Muhammad Saad]

Very impressive today on a batting wicket , bowl with venom and movement, a very good backup bowler to have in T20

[Muhammad Saad]

Yes, even watching him at The Hundred tournament it's pretty clear that the run-up isn't quite right and needs some adjustments.

If he isn't comfortable with his runup he would be the first one to notice and feel that , we as an arm chair critic can't say much about his runup , probably it's just to the naked eye on TV that he doesn't look smooth, but he might be actually comfortable with those long strides.

[Slim]

Fantastic comeback, well done shehzaday! <3

[KyoOne]

Best bowler today. Hope he plays when Shaheen is back as well

[Fenrir]

I am happy the management selected Hasnain instead of Hassan Ali.Nothing against the guy but Hasnain and Dahani need to be given more games to get experience.They will learn to absorb pressure by play matches against India.

[Saj]

I thought he did ok today considering it was his first international match for a while and it was against India.

He was just a bit predictable at times.

He bowls a good bouncer and he should use that ball more than he does.

[Saj]

If he isn't comfortable with his runup he would be the first one to notice and feel that , we as an arm chair critic can't say much about his runup , probably it's just to the naked eye on TV that he doesn't look smooth, but he might be actually comfortable with those long strides.

It's been pointed out by quite a few former players and commentators too.

Their point being that he doesn't look entirely comfortable with it and may be even better if he sorts it out.

[Nasty Naz]

Credit to him, he looked fairly decent outside of the bouncer delivery. Got a massive wicket too.

[Nikhil_cric]

Hasan ali's carer is pretty much done in white ball cricket
. Naseem, Shaheen, Dahani, Rauf ,Wasim jr. are already more impressive and Hasnain was quite impressive today
as well with the sheer pace and bounce he was generating.

[Ashmal]

Was the best fast bowler in the whole match....bowled with venom.

[PakHammer]

Action looked fine to me which is obviously a good sign for him and Pakistan.

[Rellu_Katta]

bowled beautifully .... went for some runs but had more control than any seamer from either side

[CricVet]

The bouncer which Huda barely managed to play behind the wicket, would have been menacing on a better surface. He will get better with time if stays fit.

[SpiritOf1903]

The Hundred has a use..heh

[moghul]

Bowled well today, glad he is blocking trundler Hasan Ali from sneaking up back in the team. With a bit of confidence , he has the ability to surpass Naseem as the 2nd best after Shaheen in white ball cricket.

[offstump]

He’s class. A real athlete, genuine pace, height, bounce.. he has it all.

[Xoib]

The remodeled action might have saved his career was going no where with the last one could be a test prospect as well with his height pace and bounce.

[Titan24]

Comes to the squad as replacement with his remodelled action and then had to play a pressure game as a replacement in the XI. I believe he did pretty well considering the surface and took an important wicket as well.

On a side not bowled 150 kph or so delivery as well in the match if I am not wrong.

[Colorblind Genius]

Always supported this guy right from the start.

He has good pace and knows how to bowl at a great line n length.

For now, he has speed so it all works good, but he must learn how to swing n seam and master this skill. It’s a tool of survival in modern day cricket.

[Muhammad Saad]

It's been pointed out by quite a few former players and commentators too.

Their point being that he doesn't look entirely comfortable with it and may be even better if he sorts it out.

Again as an International bowler he should be intelligent enough to note that by himself and not by commentators and guys like us , he should consult it with his coaches (he has been in The 100s with a professional coaching setup) and try to rectify the issue instead of being naive and keep doing what he is doing. He is no longer an amateur U19 bowler who needs a basic coach.

[Kianig89]

Earlier he was all pace or wayward pace but yesterday his bowling had a purpose maybe its Shaun Tait effect

[shamaan]

Looked decent and showed decent control.

[Marooned]

Earlier he was all pace or wayward pace but yesterday his bowling had a purpose maybe its Shaun Tait effect

Doubt tait had anything to do with it. Umar Rasheed worked with him and he is here too.

[SpiritOf1903]

Earlier he was all pace or wayward pace but yesterday his bowling had a purpose maybe its Shaun Tait effect

But Shaun Tait wasn't coaching when he was all pace and wayward..

[Kianig89]

Doubt tait had anything to do with it. Umar Rasheed worked with him and he is here too.

But Shaun Tait wasn't coaching when he was all pace and wayward..

Exactly Tait has made him a thinking bowler

[Marooned]

Exactly Tait has made him a thinking bowler

Nah. I'm saying Umar Rasheed is the one who helped him with his new action and he was called here too for Asia Cup.
So if you want to give credit to anyone for Hasnain, it's Umar Rasheed.

[MenInG]

Slower and smarter....

[Fenrir]

Had a relatively poor game but there are off days for every sportsman.He should keep working on his fitness and improve his bowling.

[shamaan]

Had a relatively poor game but there are off days for every sportsman.He should keep working on his fitness and improve his bowling.

He brought it back quite well.

[Mamoon]

Poor bowling with both actions. Massively overhyped like Naseem. He is Sami 2.0.

[Abstraction1]

Poor bowling with both actions. Massively overhyped like Naseem. He is Sami 2.0.

They were good enough to destroy your beloved Indian team

[The Googly]

Poor bowling with both actions. Massively overhyped like Naseem. He is Sami 2.0.

Ah Mr Attention Seeker strikes again. How’s life in Chennai today? Quite sad that you spend your days stalking this site to vent your bitterness.

[Xoib]

Poor bowling with both actions. Massively overhyped like Naseem. He is Sami 2.0.

As the famous urdu kahavat goes "Agar dushman jalan sai air zaida chilanay lagay aur tanay kassay samajh jaoo tum saheh rastay pay hou aur kamyabi dour nahi"

Keep it coming the humble pie you get after every Pak win is worth all the garbage you post.

[Fenrir]

Poor bowling with both actions. Massively overhyped like Naseem. He is Sami 2.0.

Naseem is not overhyped.He has started to perform.Naseem and Hasnain are going to get better and better.They need experience.

[Gharib Aadmi]

Bowling very well today.

[Bilal7]

Very good prospect and will improve with time.

[Fenrir]

Hasnain is not only quick he gets a lot of bounce which is not easy to handle.He is a good prospect and will get better as he plays more games.

[MenInG]

Mohammad Hasnain has gained 14 places to reach 96th in the latest weekly update of the ICC T20I rankings

[Kroll]

Hope he gets developed properly and keeps working hard as he has all the attributes to become one of the best. I have high hopes for him.

[MenInG]

Hasnain today

[The_KING]

Single-handedly cost Pakistan the match with his pathetic over. Get this chucker out now.

[ads101]

Glad we won today he must be feeling relieved after that over. Would have been a shame to see a young cricketers confidence shattered over something like this, these things happen.

[Markhor]

No middle ground with Hasnain - either bowls like a dream or a drain. Loses plot at death overs as we've seen in PSL.

Shaheen, Rauf and Naseem without question remain our frontline T20 seamers.

[KingOfPakBreakfast]

No middle ground with Hasnain - either bowls like a dream or a drain. Loses plot at death overs as we've seen in PSL.

Shaheen, Rauf and Naseem without question remain our frontline T20 seamers.

He needs to be bowled out before the death. If he plays for Pakistan, he needs to bowl 3 in the power play. That’s where he’s effective.

[shamaan]

No middle ground with Hasnain - either bowls like a dream or a drain. Loses plot at death overs as we've seen in PSL.

Shaheen, Rauf and Naseem without question remain our frontline T20 seamers.

Yes Wasim Jnr after that.

[Jonty]

I hope he doesn’t turn into another Mohammed Sami

[Muhammad Saad]

If we needs to play then bowl him out in the first power play where he can get more swing and bounce and yes he is extremely scary with that bounce and away movement initially use his 4th over in the 10th over, he is big liability on the death overs that even tailenders cart him for runs like nothing.

[Kriketer]

Poor bowling with both actions. Massively overhyped like Naseem. He is Sami 2.0.

Hyped are usually the trundler from your beloved nation. Don't know why you always have you be so sour. Kid is young and talented, let off the grumpiness once in a while

[Kriketer]

Single-handedly cost Pakistan the match with his pathetic over. Get this chucker out now.

You saw him chucking? And 1 over will determine someone's career? Fickle fans who ask for head after a few bad performances are such a joke

[TheSultan]

Need to put his performance in perspective. 3 excellent overs followed by a very poor one.

His first over set the victory up after our pathetic batting. Give him a lot of credit.

Glad we won because the 4th over combined with a loss would have really killed his confidence

[Fenrir]

He should not bowl at the death until he has gained more experience.He lost the plot after Dawson went after him.

[Saj]

148 kph, 149kph and then 154 kph from Hasnain.

The pace is still there no doubt.