Shoaib Akhtar: “He (Hasan Nawaz) can win matches for you. Or Mohammad Wasim Junior, another player who can win”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan fast bowling icon Shoaib Akhtar has called for big-hitting batsman Hasan Nawaz and seamer Mohammad Wasim Jnr to be picked more often as they are capable of being match-winners.
Nawaz has been a regular face in Pakistan’s limited overs squads as of late, but saw his opportunities drop during the 2025 Asia Cup, where he mustered 17 runs in three matches at an average of 5.66 and a strike-rate of 65.38.
As for Wasim Jnr, he recently recovered from a side strain and is set to make his comeback in the ongoing limited over series against South Africa. He has also been picked for the Sri Lanka ODIs and T20I tri-series against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe.
Aware of their abilities, Akhtar insisted they must be given a fair shot, especially when other players are not living up to expectations.
“He (Hasan Nawaz) can win matches for you. Or Mohammad Wasim Junior, another player who can win,” the Rawalpindi Express said on PTV Sports as quoted by NDTV.
Pakistan just finished playing a two-Test series against South Africa that ended as a 1-1 draw.
They are now playing three T20Is, where the men in green trail 1-0.
In the 1st T20I, Nawaz only managed to score three runs.
After the T20I series, Pakistan and South Africa will face each other in a three-match ODI series from November 4 to 8.
Following this, Pakistan will go up against Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series from November 11 to 15, and then participate in a T20I tri-series featuring Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe between November 17 and 29.
Pakistan squad for South Africa T20I Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem
Pakistan squad for South Africa ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka ODI Series: Shaheen Shah Afridi (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Faisal Akram, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Haseebullah Khan, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha
Pakistan squad for Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe T20I Tri-Series: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
Reserves: Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Sufiyan Muqeem