Written by: Shiraz Aslam
Posted on: December 12, 2025 | 
| 中文
Hasan Nawaz scored a century against New Zealand in his third T20 International.
A slogger who got out on a duck in his first two international games is now one of Pakistan cricket’s most promising youngsters. Hassan Nawaz had a rocky start to his international career in March of this year as he failed to score a single run as an opener in the first two games of a five-match series against New Zealand.
However, in the third encounter on 21st March, Nawaz silenced his doubters and repaid the faith shown in him, scoring an unbeaten 105 off just 48 balls in a successful sensational chase against the black caps. Nonetheless, despite showing glimpses of brilliance and undeterred aggression, the series proved to be a mediocre one for Nawaz as he scored only 106 runs in 5 games.
Despite a blistering 100, Nawaz had a rocky start to his international career.
The 23-year-old batsman was then moved to the middle order, where he has found his groove. We first witnessed a fine taste of his skill, power and grit as a middle order batsman in the HBL PSL X, where he was Quetta Gladiator’s leading run scorer with 399 runs at a batting average of 57.0 and strike rate of 162.2. During this tremendous display of power hitting and class, Nawaz scored one century and three half centuries, including a 76 in the final against Lahore Qalandars.
Nawaz represented Quetta Gladiators in PSL X.
PCB’s management also made the wise decision of moving Nawaz down the order during Pakistan’s home series against Bangladesh in May-June 2025. He had a string of convincing performances filled with intent and aggression, including an unbeaten 51 in the second game at Gaddafi Stadium that took his side past 200.
When Pakistan traveled to the Caribbean for white-ball cricket, Nawaz made his ODI debut and played a match-winning innings against a determined West Indian bowling attack at a critical point in the game. Despite Pakistan losing the series, his flashes of batting brilliance provided a glimmer of hope for disheartened fans.
Hasan Nawaz played a match-winning innings on his ODI debut along with Hussain Talat.
It is evident that Pakistan’s cricket is facing a steep decline. The team has suffered humiliating defeats against Bangladesh and the West Indies away from home, the strike bowlers are conceding runs and struggling to take wickets, and the new team combinations have failed to deliver. Amid this dismal campaign, Hasan Nawaz stands out as the team’s brightest positive.
Though his international journey has only just started, Nawaz possesses immense potential. For years, Pakistan’s middle order has struggled with inconsistency and a lack of intent, frequently collapsing against spin and failing to finish games. The management explored multiple approaches to address this weakness, recalling experienced players like Imad Wasim and experimenting with various batting all-rounders, yet a permanent fix remained elusive.
Nawaz, pictured with Fakhar Zaman, gels in well with the current combination of cricketers.
Hasan Nawaz’s rise came at the perfect moment. He has injected both stability and aggression into an otherwise fragile middle order. While he does not contribute with the ball, his fearless approach against top-class bowlers in limited overs cricket sets him apart. His temperament also deserves praise, especially during Pakistan’s tense chase against the West Indies in the opening ODI earlier this month, where his resolve truly shone through.
At the end of the day, cricket is a team effort, and Nawaz blends seamlessly with the core members of the squad. Salman Ali Agha, for instance, can take on the cautious, defensive role in the middle order while Nawaz looks to accelerate. If the top order collapses, the 23-year-old has the composure and skill to keep the scoreboard moving while preserving wickets. He is also capable of steering the team to victory alongside tail-enders like Naseem Shah.
Nawaz, who is on track to become a regular in Pakistan’s T20I side, with Pakistan's T20I captaim, Salman Agha.
However, the management must place trust in him. Every cricketer goes through a rough patch, and Nawaz should not be sidelined after just a few underwhelming performances. The Layyah-born batsman deserves consistent backing because he has all the qualities needed to become a superstar and a genuine match-winner for Pakistan. On a personal level, he needs to address the shortcomings in his game and demonstrate greater patience during challenging phases of play.
With a demanding cricket season ahead, which includes the Asia Cup, all eyes will be on Nawaz. Delivering in bilateral series is a challenge in itself, but facing India on the grandest stage in front of a roaring crowd is a monumental task that has unsettled even the best players. Pakistan will be counting on Nawaz to rise to the occasion and deliver when it matters most.
The future appears promising for Hasan Nawaz, who has the potential to become the next big name in Pakistan cricket, particularly as a middle-order aggressor and match-winner, a role in which he has already shown early success.
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