Wasim Akram: “I told Waqar in the Kashmir [Premier] League, Hasan Nawaz is something special. Please keep an eye on him”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan left-arm seamer Wasim Akram said “please keep an eye on” big-hitting batsman Hasan Nawaz as he is “something special”.
Nawaz has been gaining significant attention for his batting as he regularly hits monster sixes, but Wasim knew he was destined for greatness before he became a household name.
In the 2025 Pakistan Super League (PSL), Nawaz was the third-highest run-scorer with 399 runs in 12 matches for the Quetta Gladiators, which included a century and three fifties, at an average of 57 and a strike-rate of 162.19.
It should also be noted that he hit the most sixes in PSL 10 with 28.
After the PSL concluded, the 22-year-old was involved in Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh and struck 121 runs at an average of 60.50 and a strike-rate of 198.36.
However, the Islamabad native didn’t have as much success during the tour of Bangladesh as he only made 33 runs in three T20Is at an average of 11 and a strike-rate of 122.22.
Given what he has seen from Nawaz thus far, Wasim admitted it has been nothing short of extraordinary.
“I told Waqar in the Kashmir [Premier] League, Hasan Nawaz is something special. Please keep an eye on him,” he was quoted as saying by Khel Shel on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan are now touring the West Indies for three T20Is and three ODIs.
In the T20I series, which the men in green won 2-1, Nawaz scored 79 runs at an average of 26.33 and a strike-rate of 164.58.
Nawaz has also been included in the ODI team, meaning he could make hid 50-over debut in the upcoming three-match series.
The 1st ODI between Pakistan and the West Indies will take place on August 9 in Trinidad.
Pakistan Squad for West Indies T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan Squad for West Indies ODI Series: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufiyan Muqeem