Raja lauds Hassan Nawaz's brilliance
Hassan Nawaz scored an unbeaten 100 off just 45 balls against Islamabad United. Photo: PCB
Former Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ramiz Raja heaped praise on Quetta Gladiators' young batter Hassan Nawaz for his explosive century against Islamabad United on Wednesday, describing it as an 'exceptional and thrilling knock.'
While acknowledging Rossouw's innings, Raja singled out Nawaz's performance as the more impactful of the two.
"Hassan Nawaz's knock was a complete package and an absolute joy to watch," he added.
The former cricketer also highlighted Nawaz's game awareness during his partnership with Rossouw.
"He kept rotating the strike, ensured Rossouw maintained his rhythm, and never let his own strike rate drop. That is the hallmark of a smart batter - playing for the team while sustaining personal momentum," he remarked.
The former PCB chief emphasised that Nawaz's innings was instrumental in Quetta crossing the 250-run mark.
"If Hasan hadn't held his ground and batted sensibly, the team would not have reached that total," Raja stated, crediting the youngster for setting up the win.
He also expressed surprise that Nawaz was overlooked for the Player of the Match award.
"He timed his innings perfectly, never lost control of the game and accelerated when it mattered the most," he concluded.
Opening snub
Quetta Gladiators captain Saud Shakeel lauded young batter Hasan Nawaz for his impressive adaptability and composure under pressure during the ongoing HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10.
Originally an opener, Nawaz has been tasked with fulfilling various roles in the Gladiators' batting lineup this season.
Saud Shakeel recently shared his thoughts on Hasan Nawaz's evolving batting position, recognizing his adaptability and resilience.
"Hasan Nawaz deserves credit. He's an opener but didn't fit into our combo. We sent him at 3, then 6, now at 4. To adapt to conditions and perform under pressure at this age shows he's special," Saud said.
Nawaz validated his captain's faith with a breathtaking unbeaten century, scoring 100 off just 45 balls, which included four boundaries and nine towering sixes.
He showed maturity by playing second fiddle to veteran Rilee Rossouw, who smashed 104 off 46 balls, before accelerating and taking control in the latter half of the innings.
Their explosive partnership propelled Quetta to a formidable total of 263/3, the highest-ever team total in PSL history, which proved too much for Islamabad United.
The opposition crumbled under scoreboard pressure and was bowled out for 154 in 19.3 overs, handing Quetta a dominant victory.
Nawaz also achieved a rare milestone, becoming only the second Pakistani batterafter former captain Babar Azamto score centuries in both the PSL and T20 Internationals (T20Is) within the same calendar year.
It was pertinent to mention that the 26th match of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10, held at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, saw Quetta Gladiators dominate Islamabad United with a commanding 109-run victory.
The Gladiators' emphatic win was fueled by two stunning centuries — Rilee Rossouw hammered 104 runs, while Hasan Nawaz blasted a 45-ball century, featuring nine sixes and four boundaries.
Nawaz also achieved a rare milestone, becoming only the second Pakistani batterafter former captain Babar Azamto score centuries in both the PSL and T20 Internationals (T20Is) within the same calendar year.
This historic performance also marked the first time in PSL history that a team featured two centurions in a single innings, with both Rossouw and Nawaz reaching triple figures for the Gladiators.
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