Starting an international career with five balls, two ducks, and two disappointing losses isn’t exactly ideal. But let’s not forget that Pakistan’s record for the fastest T20I hundred and the quickest 200-plus chase in a T20I during the third game was a fantastic way to bounce back from those initial setbacks. Hasan Nawaz, welcome to the world of Pakistan cricket, and Pakistan cricket, it’s great to have you, Hasan Nawaz.
HASSAN NAWAZ
This moment has been a long time coming. Nawaz has been seen as the next big star by notable figures like Shoaib Malik and Misbah-ul-Haq. Their faith in him grew after his impressive performance in the Kashmir Premier League in 2022, where he faced off against players like Mir Hamza, Sohail Tanvir, Mohammad Amir, and Zaman Khan while teaming up with Malik for the Mirpur Royals. He wrapped up that season as the second-highest scorer and, more importantly, with the second-most sixes.
The Rising Star Redefining T20 Batting in Pakistan
It took a while for him to break into the Pakistan squad, partly due to the unwavering trust in Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, along with an injury that slowed Nawaz down in 2023. However, his comeback couldn’t have come at a better time. Just as Pakistan decided to shake things up with RizBar for now, Nawaz made a splash with the Lions team at the new T20 Champions Cup in December, finishing as the second-highest scorer once again and proving to be a six-hitting machine.
Nawaz’s remarkable hundred also highlights Pakistan’s fresh approach under the new T20I captain, Salman Agha. This aligns perfectly with the consistent message from both the captain and vice-captain, Shadab Khan, to the team management and selectors: play aggressively without the fear of failure or consequences. He didn’t let the two ducks from earlier games weigh him down. And while there was certainly pressure when he stepped onto the field on Friday, Nawaz shared after the match, “Definitely, when I got out in the first two games, I did think [this was it]. You know how Pakistan can be, that I…”
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