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Dale Steyn. (Photo by Shaun Roy/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

In their ODI World Cup opener on Friday, 6 October, Pakistan displayed their prowess on both the batting and bowling fronts, securing an impressive 81-run victory over the Netherlands. The Babar Azam-led side exhibited a stellar performance with the ball, successfully thwarting the Dutch challenge to restrict them to a total of 205 runs in their pursuit of a 287-run target.

The return of fast bowler Hasan Ali to the ODI format was a pivotal moment for Pakistan, and his contributions did not go unnoticed. Ali, who was drafted into the World Cup squad as a late replacement for the injured Naseem Shah, made an immediate impact. Bowling seven economical overs, he clinched two crucial wickets at the cost of 33 runs, earning praise from none other than former South African pace sensation, Dale Steyn.

Steyn commended the 29-year-old’s performance, acknowledging the disruption caused by the absence of Pakistan’s usual fast-bowling duo at the opening. He noted the right-arm pacer’s deliberate approach, emphasizing that the speedster refrained from attempting to consistently reach the 140-145 KMPH range. Instead, the Pakistan pacer’s focus on precision in line and length proved to be highly effective in stifling the Dutch batting lineup.

“He (Hasan Ali) hasn’t taken the new ball for a while now. It disrupts things when you lose your usual fast bowling unit that opens the bowling. But he came in and did a wonderful job. He didn’t really try and get the pace up to that 140-145 KMPH. He was very effective on his line and length,” Steyn commented on ESPNcricinfo after the game.

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Dale Steyn impressed by Hasan Ali’s demeanour on the field  

Furthermore, Hasan’s upbeat demeanour on the field did not go unnoticed by Steyn, who emphasized the importance of enjoying the game. The South African legend observed that the cricketer’s infectious smile while competing reflected his genuine enjoyment, a factor that contributed to his remarkable performance on the day.

“The other thing that I enjoyed about him was that he had a good smile on his face. It looked like he was enjoying himself. When you are enjoying yourself, things come a little bit easier,” Steyn added, highlighting the value of a positive attitude in the world of cricket.