Mike Hesson: “He’s been exceptional”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson really likes what he has seen from big-hitting batsman Hasan Nawaz.
Nawaz has been scoring runs on a regular basis for the men in green, which has resulted in him being handed more opportunities.
The 23-year-old has made the most of those chances and is now one of the must-see cricketers in the Pakistan team.
“He’s been exceptional,” Hesson was quoted as saying by Khel Shel.
During Pakistan’s three-match T20I series against Bangladesh in Lahore, Nawaz made 121 runs at an average of 60.50 and a strike-rate of 198.36.
He then toured Bangladesh with the men in green and struck 33 runs in three T20Is at an average of 11 and a strike-rate of 122.22.
Pakistan then travelled to the West Indies and Nawaz continued to shine as he smashed 79 runs in three T20Is at an average of 26.33 and a strike-rate of 164.58.
He then proceeded to make his ODI debut and finished with 112 runs in three matches, which included a career-best knock of 63 not out, at an average of 112.
Next up for the Islamabad native was Pakistan’s T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan, where he made 93 runs in five matches, which included a top score of 56, at an average of 18.60 and a strike-rate of 143.07.
Pakistan were then involved in the 2025 Asia Cup, which took place in the UAE.
In the three games he played, Nawaz accumulated 17 runs at an average of 5.66 and a strike-rate of 65.38.
Pakistan are now facing South Africa in a two-Test series, which Nawaz was not picked for.
The men in green hold a 1-0 lead and will look to complete a 2-0 whitewash in the ongoing 2nd Test in Rawalpindi.
After the Test series, Pakistan and South Africa will play three T20Is and three ODIs.
Pakistan squad for South Africa Test series: Shan Masood (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi
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