Lancashire County Cricket Club (LCCC) has completed the signing of Pakistan pacer Hasan Ali, for the first six matches of the 2022 County Championship.

The 27-year-old would be making his county cricket debut in April.

Hasan was the third-highest wicket-taker in 2021 with 41 wickets at an impressive average of 16.07 and will be the ninth Pakistani player to sign a county contract for this season.

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Hassan Ali is very excited to be part of the County Championship 2022, he said.

"I am very excited at the prospect of playing county cricket in England for the first time in my career,"

 "Emirates Old Trafford is a stadium which holds special memories for me, after making my T20 International debut against England there in 2016.”

"I am very proud to follow in the footsteps of Wasim Akram, a Pakistan legend, who always talks so highly of his time with Lancashire. I can't wait to join up with the squad in April and I hope to make a significant contribution in the games that I play."

The right-arm pacer is currently part of the Pakistan squad and will reach Manchester in April after the series against Australia. He will be available for Lancashire’s first match against Kent at Canterbury on April 14. Hassan will be available for Lancashire till the end of May and his final appearance would be against Essex on May 19.

Remember, Lancashire reached the final of the County Championship in 2021 but was thrashed by Warwickshire by an innings and 199 runs. 

Hassan’s inclusion in the team will add strength to the seam attack of Lancashire who already has Saqib Mahmood, Tom Bailey, Luke Wood, Danny Lamb, and James Anderson who was recently left out of England’s tour of West Indies.

The head coach of Lancashire Glen Chapple is happy with the addition of Hassan Ali to the squad, he said.

"Hasan is a high-quality player and has a fine record in first-class and Test match cricket. We believe that his red-ball skills will complement our bowling attack nicely and that the experience he has gained at the international level can bring a lot into our dressing room."

Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram, who also played county cricket for Lancashire, during his career opined: "Congratulations Hassan this is the best thing happened you regarding your game evolvement and Lancashire Cricket, they will look after you like their own."