Mohammad Hasnain: Raw Speed, Real Struggles
Cricket writers have a habit of describing certain fast bowlers as looking “born to bowl fast” β the frame, the action, the pace all fitting together like they were designed for exactly one job. Mohammad Hasnain fits that description almost perfectly on paper: a sleek, slender frame on a genuinely tall build, a front-on action, and a delivery that regularly touches 150 km/h. What’s proven considerably harder is translating that raw gift into consistent international success.
Hyderabad, a cattle-feed shop, and a father’s abandoned cricket career
Hasnain was born on 5 April 2000, tracing his family’s roots back to Alwar in the Indian state of Rajasthan before their eventual settlement in Hyderabad, Pakistan. His father, Mohammad Hussain, owns a cattle feed shop in Hirabad, Hyderabad, and was himself a cricketer β a wicketkeeper who later converted to fast bowling β before having to abandon the sport to support a large family.
Hasnain and Sharjeel Khan are, notably, the only two international cricketers to have come out of Hyderabad specifically β a relative cricketing hinterland compared to the traditional powerhouses of Lahore, Karachi, and Rawalpindi.
An overnight sensation at 19
Hasnain’s genuine breakthrough came almost by accident: he was drafted into Quetta Gladiators’ 2019 PSL squad as a replacement for Naseem Shah, who’d pulled out injured. Hasnain seized the opportunity, becoming a key component of Quetta’s title-winning campaign and clocking the fastest delivery of the entire tournament at 151 km/h.
International honours arrive fast
On 5 October 2019 against Sri Lanka, Hasnain became the youngest fast bowler ever to take a hat-trick in a T20I match, at 19 years and 183 days old. He also holds the record for the fastest delivery ever bowled in Caribbean Premier League history, clocked at 155.1 km/h.
A format that suits him, and one that hasn’t
His particular skills are best exploited in T20 cricket specifically. In 50-over cricket, he’s proven expensive and comparatively ineffective, playing just seven ODIs in the five years following his debut.
A serious action controversy
In February 2022, the ICC suspended him from bowling in international cricket due to an illegal bowling action, before he was cleared to return in June 2022 following remedial work.
Where his career stands
Mohammad Hasnain remains, at his best, one of the fastest bowlers on the planet. Whether he can consistently be that bowler when it matters most is the question his career has yet to fully answer.
Quick facts
Full name: Mohammad Hasnain | Born: 5 April 2000, Hyderabad | Role: Right-arm fast bowler | Notable: Youngest bowler to take a T20I hat-trick (19 years, 183 days), fastest delivery in CPL history (155.1 km/h), 2019 PSL title with Quetta Gladiators, served an ICC illegal-action suspension in 2022 before being cleared to bowl.
Frequently asked questions
How old is Mohammad Hasnain?
Born on 5 April 2000, Mohammad Hasnain is in his mid-twenties as of 2026.
How fast does Mohammad Hasnain bowl?
He regularly exceeds 150 km/h and holds the record for the fastest delivery ever bowled in Caribbean Premier League history at 155.1 km/h.
Was Mohammad Hasnain banned from bowling?
Yes β the ICC suspended him in February 2022 for an illegal bowling action, before he was cleared to return in June 2022 after remedial work on his action.
Why does Mohammad Hasnain play more T20s than ODIs?
His pace-based skill set has proven far more effective and economical in the shortest format.
What is Mohammad Hasnain’s biggest record?
Becoming the youngest fast bowler in T20I history to take a hat-trick, against Sri Lanka at 19 years and 183 days old.
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Researched and fact-checked against official league, federation and governing-body sources. Reviewed by Makhdoomzada Zaeem Muhammad, Founder & Editor, PinLivescore.