There's a reason why Pakistan were being termed as "unpredictable" going into the Champions Trophy and they proved it today.
Pakistan captain Sarfraz Ahmed insisted he always believed his side could turn their fortunes around after they reached the Champions Trophy final with a dominant eight-wicket win over England in Cardiff.
Hasan has bounced back from that onslaught by taking three wickets from each of his next three games, including 3-35 at Sophia Gardens on Wednesday as Pakistan thrashed England by eight wickets in the semifinals.
Pakistan's bowlers, backed up their captains - Sarfraz Ahmed's - decision to bowl first by troubling the hosts from the onset with an impeccable line and a sharp fielding effort.
"Yesterday we came here, we had a meeting and we thought if we won the toss we would elect to bowl first and could restrict them to 260, 270".
Hasan Ali took three wickets as Pakistan ripped through the order, and they were soon in to bat as England scratched their heads against high-quality seam bowling.
He was well supported by left-arm pacer Junaid Khan and Rumman Raees who both scalped two-two wickets and kept the pressure on the English batsmen.
Pakistan will now face defending champions India in Sunday's final at the Oval if their archrivals defeat Bangladesh in Thursday's second semi-final at Edgbaston.
"We certainly weren't over-confident", he said. "Certainly, I think we're moving in the right direction".
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Unable to find the breakthrough, English skipper Eoin Morgan got Adil Rashid back into action, and the leg-spinner delivered on the very first delivery of his fourth over with the wicket of the unsafe Zaman, stumped by wicketkeeper Jos Buttler.
Defeat extended England's long wait for a maiden major one-day worldwide title until at least 2019 - when they stage the next World Cup.
"And having watched the game against Sri Lanka, we actually didn't think it was that bad".
"Credit goes to the bowlers and the batters who finished it very well", said Sarfraz at the presentation ceremony.
"I don't think we did play anything rash today".
"I think it [today] was the best game because it was a semi-final, no one recognised us". Joe Root top-scored with 46 and Yorkshire team-mate Jonny Bairstow, recalled in place of dropped opener Jason Roy, managed 43.
Yet that day, England were playing on a fresh wicket, so batsmen found it easier to hit their stride. Most teams have tried to swing the ball up front, and when it hasn't they have struggled to take wickets in the middle overs.
Liam Plunkett made nine and England's misery was completed when Sarfraz ran out Mark Wood for three with one ball of the innings remaining.
That was to be England's last taste of success as Azam and Mohammad Hafeez sealed the deal with an unbeaten 42-run partnership.
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