LAHORE: Hasan Ali, who recently etched his name in the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) record books as the all-time leading wicket-taker, is currently spearheading the bowling attack for Karachi Kings in HBL PSL X. The fiery right-arm pacer has bagged an impressive 13 wickets in just six matches for the franchise.
Karachi Kings marks the third PSL team for the 31-year-old Hasan, who embarked on his PSL journey with Peshawar Zalmi against the Kings back in February 2016 as an emerging category player at the age of 22.
Prior to the ongoing PSL season, Hasan made a strong comeback to competitive cricket for Sialkot Region in the National T20 Cup 2025 after a nine-month hiatus enforced by an elbow injury.
He immediately showcased his prowess by clinching the best bowler award in the tournament, picking up 13 wickets in just four matches at an outstanding average of 10.38. His current PSL career tally stands at a remarkable 121 wickets in 88 matches, boasting an average of 22.09.
He surpassed the previous record holder, Wahab Riaz, who also played 88 matches for Peshawar Zalmi until HBL PSL 8, when he dismissed Hasan Nawaz against Quetta Gladiators at the National Bank Stadium on April 18th.
Hasan, who has also bowled the most overs in PSL history with 332.1 to his name, shared his thoughts with PCB Digital on his stellar performances in the ongoing season. “I’m satisfied with my performance as I’m leading the bowling charts after six games for Karachi Kings. It feels great when you take wickets for your team regularly,” he expressed.
When questioned about his bowling rhythm in HBL PSL X, where his 13 wickets have come at an impressive average of 14.85, Hasan revealed, “I haven’t made any major changes to my bowling; instead, I’ve modified the basics and focused intensely on my fitness and diet, which has significantly contributed to my success this season.”
Under the captaincy of Australia’s David Warner, Karachi Kings currently hold a balanced record of three wins and three losses.
Hasan is also fulfilling the role of vice-captain, an experience he is relishing. “I’m enjoying the responsibility of being the vice-captain of one of the biggest HBL PSL franchises. Such responsibilities instill a lot of confidence, which undoubtedly reflects in my own performances,” he stated.
He further lauded his captain, “The best thing about Warner is his team-first mentality and his vast experience garnered from playing across the globe. He has served Australia for a long time, and the young players in our squad are learning immensely from him.
I want to express my gratitude to him for joining us in his maiden HBL PSL season and commend the league management and PCB for bringing him to Pakistan.”
Reflecting on their recent narrow five-run defeat against Quetta Gladiators, Hasan admitted, “We perhaps took that game a bit lightly, especially when we were seemingly on track to win. Cricket is an unpredictable game, and momentum can shift dramatically within an over or two in the short format.”
Despite the setback, Hasan remains optimistic about Karachi’s chances. “Anyways, we are still in a good position on the table, and in our remaining four matches, our aim is to secure a spot in the top two.”
Looking ahead, Hasan is particularly eager for Karachi’s return fixture against their arch-rivals, Lahore Qalandars. Responding to a question about the crowd expectations for that match on May 4th, he said, “As players, we always thrive on playing in front of large crowds, and we are eagerly anticipating our match against Lahore Qalandars. I hope the fans turn out in huge numbers, and we can entertain them with our skills.”
