Pakistan express paceman joins Thunder

The Sydney Thunder have added another express paceman to their KFC BBL squad, signing Pakistan young gun Muhammad Hasnain.

A Hasnain delivery has been clocked at 155.1 km/h in the Caribbean Premier League.

The 21-year-old — once described as the fastest teenage bowler that Shane Watson had ever seen — has enjoyed a rapid rise, including an ODI debut against Australia in 2019 that came before even playing a domestic one-dayer.

At age 19, Hasnain became the youngest player to take a hat-trick in a T20I.

The pace sensation was part of Pakistan's squad for this month's series against West Indies, but the ODI leg of that tour has been postponed because of COVID-19 cases among the visitors.

"Muhammad is going to love bowling in Australia," Thunder allrounder Ben Cutting said, having played alongside Hasnain in the Pakistan Super League.

"We have faster pitches and bigger boundaries ... he's going to enjoy the experience, and I know he'll be a tremendous addition.

"He bowls fast; easily at 150 km/h.

"He's a lovely young kid."

The Thunder, who recorded a crushing 53-run win over Brisbane Heat on Sunday night, next face the Sydney Sixers at Showground Stadium on Boxing Day.

Hasnain joins fellow speed demon Saqib Mahmood in the Thunder's squad.

Mahmood enjoyed a BBL debut to remember at the Gabba, snaring 4-22 while becoming the first bowler in the league's history to claim four wickets during the first three overs of an innings.

Mahmood, a contentious omission from England's Vodafone Ashes touring party, will likely be called into the visitors' Test squad if any of their frontline quicks suffer an injury.

But the 24-year-old expects he will spend Boxing Day at Sydney Olympic Park, rather than the MCG.

"I've heard a lot about the Sydney Smash," Mahmood said.

"I'm really looking forward to that.

"I think it'll be a decent crowd ... and it'd be nice to play in one of those high-profile games early doors."

Mahmood admitted to some nerves leading up to his first ball for the Thunder.

"You always get that, coming in and playing for new side," he said.

"Stuck to my guns out there and the ball was swinging.

"I'm not going to take the foot off the gas, but it's just nice to put in a good performance early."

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