Sri Lanka v Pakistan 2023

Watch: Hassan Ali loses hat from head, celebrates behind-the-back catch while performing substitute duties

by Wisden Staff July 16, 2023 - 1:12pm 15 minute read

Watch: During the first Test match against Sri Lanka, Pakistan substitute fielder Hassan Ali took a spectacular catch … of his hat.

Pakistan reduced Sri Lanka to 54-4 by the 16th over in the first Test match, at the Galle International Stadium, after Dimuth Karunaratne opted to bat.

Shaheen Shah Afridi (3-63), playing his first Test match in a year, had Nishan Madushanka caught behind early to reach the 100-wicket mark in Test cricket, and followed with the wickets of Kusal Mendis and Karunaratne. At the other end, Naseem Shah (1-66) took out Dinesh Chandimal.

Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva then came together to add 131 for the fifth wicket. During the partnership, in the 45th over, Pakistan substitute fielder Hassan Ali was summoned by teammate. He then ran off, taking someone’s shades back to the pavilion.

Hassan sprinted back with the shades in one hand (while donning his own). En route, the wind blew the Pakistan cap off his head. Hassan stopped in his tracks, put his right hand behind his back, and – despite it being out of eyesight – caught it with his right hand.

That done, he continued with his sprint, brandishing the cap above his head in a form of celebration.

Abrar Ahmed (1-59) had Mathews caught behind for 64, but Dhananjaya (94 not out) found support in Sadeera Samarawickrama (36). The day’s play ended with Imam-ul-Haq catching Samarawickrama in spectacular fashion off Salman Agha (1-18). Sri Lanka were 242-5.