Every Cricket World Cup needs a cult hero. More often than not they come from the associate nations – the ones who aren’t test playing nations, but are still there. Not for the legitimate chance to clasp the trophy, but because they’ve scrapped and clawed and earned their way into the tournament, and now they’re simply playing for the sheer love of the game.
In 2007, for example, it was the rotund might of Bermuda‘s Dwayne Leverock who took one of the best slips catches you’re ever likely to see during a Pool game against India.
In 2015, it’s Afghanistan‘s turn to bring a little spice to proceedings.
Pace bowler Hamid Hassan already presents as a colourful figure from the moment he steps onto the field. With a Rambo-like headband and warpaint adoring his cheeks in the national colours, Hassan’s intense presence immediately draws the eye without him actually having to do anything.
But the impassioned theatrics he pulls after taking a wicket is more than enough to rocket Hassan into cult hero status. After dismissing Sri Lankan batsman Kumar Sangakkara in a match this past Sunday, Hassan broke out what can loosely be described as a “somersault butt drop.”
And today, he was at it again. Following an athletic catch to dismiss Josh Davey of Scotland during their ongoing match in Dunedin, Hassan again went to his bag of tricks and rolled his way into the hearts of cricket watchers everywhere.
This is what it’s all about, folks. There might be some serious competition for the 50 over game’s most prestigious prize going on right now. But behind all that – all the stress, all the media scrutiny, all the preparation and body management – there’s a bunch of blokes hanging out in the southern hemisphere summer who are having a fucking blast.
