Rapid Hasnain has Thunder flying high after special debut

When the Sydney Thunder signed Mohammad Hasnain in the week leading up to Christmas, Ben Cutting predicted a successful stint in the Big Bash for the Pakistani paceman.

"Muhammad is going to love bowling in Australia," Cutting said, having played alongside Hasnain for the Quetta Gladiators 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." 

Cutting was immediately proven correct.

On debut against the Adelaide Strikers on Sunday, Hasnain's first five deliveries in the BBL brought him three wickets.

The Strikers' top order had been blown away by the 21-year-old quick; first Matt Short, then Jake Weatherald and, having seen off the hat-trick delivery, Jon Wells fell to the next ball, caught by Cutting at short midwicket.

Hasnain finished his four overs with figures of 3-20, with his fastest delivery of the night recording 149.1 km/h according to the broadcast.

Having landed in Australia on Christmas day, Hasnain only linked up with the rest of the Thunder playing XI in the hours leading up to the match. He'd never met any of them, with the exception of Cutting.

It was only fitting that Cutting presented him with his lime green cap.  

"I didn't really know too much about him before I got over there (Pakistan)," Cutting said.

"I knew he'd played for Pakistan and bowls like the absolute wind. He's young and he's raw. That's a couple of the best traits, right there."

In 2019, he bowled the fastest deliveries in both the Pakistan Super League and the Caribbean Premier League, sending down thunderbolts at 151 and 155.1 km/h respectively.  

He also became the youngest man to take a hat-trick in an international T20, when at 19 years and 183 days he took three wickets in three balls against Sri Lanka.  

With teammates Saqib Mahmood and Sam Billings called home by England, Hasnain's importance to the Thunder's cause has already increased.  

But Cutting is confident he is made of the right stuff.  

"You've either got it or you don't. He's certainly got it," Cutting said after the quick's sparkling performance on Sunday night.

"Where he could go, it's anyone's guess. He's got a pretty calm head on his shoulders – I can't say I've ever seen him flustered. It's probably tough to get flustered when you're bowling 155km/h," he said.

Hasnain will face the table-topping Perth Scorchers next up, with that match rescheduled to Thursday night on the Gold Coast after today's fixture rejig caused by a COVID case in the Brisbane Heat camp.