Young Pakistan pacer named in ESPN Cricinfo's ODI and T20I teams for 2017

Right-arm pacer for Pakistan, Hasan Ali’s journey has been extraordinary. After starting the year 2017 at a rank beyond the 200th spot, the right-handed bowler came back strongly to become the best bowler in the One-Day international format. The right-arm seamer’s line and length have often been the case of trouble for the opposition, and as particularly impressed in the Champions Trophy.

Ali ended the year 2017 with a bang, holding on to his rank at the top of the rankings, in the ODI format while picking up 45 ODI wickets during the year. So, it is really not a surprise to see the pacer in ESPN Cricinfo‘s XI. Another Pakistan player who has picked his spot in the ODI XI is none other than the middle-order batsman Babar Azam. Azam had scored an impressive tally of 872 runs at an average of 67.07 through the year. The squad of XI was headlined with five Indian players.

Ali’s presence in the T20I XI

The right-arm pacer, Ali not only ended 2017 as an impressive ODI bowler but also as an impressive T20I bowler. His bowling has been a handy tool for the Pakistan skipper Sarfraz Ahmed. Ali has joined the likes of Jasprit Bumrah in the pace attack. Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan and Windies’ Sunil Narine feature in the list as well.

England had two players on the list, with one each from Afghanistan and South Africa. However, there is no other Pakistan representation other than the pacer himself in the XI, thus providing enough reason for Pakistan to be proud of the stature Hasan Ali has reached in such a short span.

The XI is skippered by India’s Rohit Sharma while Evin Lewis and Brendon McCullum open the innings for the side. Hashim Amla features in the side alongside Jos Buttler and Dan Christian. Kieron Pollard is the last of the recognised batsman in the T20 line-up released by ESPN Cricinfo.

ESPN Cricinfo’s ODI and T20I Teams of 2017

ODI Team of 2017: Rohit Sharma (IND), Quinton de Kock (SA) [WK], Virat Kohli (IND) [C], Joe Root (ENG), Babar Azam (PAK), Hardik Pandya (IND), Ben Stokes (ENG), Hasan Ali (PAK), Rashid Khan (AFG), Jasprit Bumrah (IND), Bhuvneshwar Kumar (IND).

T20I Team of 2017: Evin Lewis (WI), Brendon McCullum (NZ), Hashim Amla (SA), Rohit Sharma (IND) [C], Jos Buttler (ENG) [WK], Dan Christian (AUS), Kieron Pollard (WI), Sunil Narine (WI), Rashid Khan (AFG), Hasan Ali (PAK), Jasprit Bumrah (IND).

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