T20 star Hasan Nawaz makes his mark
It was just two days ago that Hasan Nawaz, the son of former Pakistan PM Nawaz Sharif, was reportedly imposed a hefty fine as a "deliberate tax defaulter" in the United Kingdom, a year after the London High Court declared him bankrupt.
In sharp contrast, his namesake Hasan Nawaz — no relation to the former PM — made his own identity by smashing a 44-ball maiden Twenty20 hundred against New Zealand at Eden Park, Auckland, guiding Pakistan to a thumping nine-wicket win in a fascinating 205-run chase.
With his innings, Hasan proved he has not defaulted after being dismissed for naught in both the previous T20Is against New Zealand.
Incidentally, Hasan dedicated the hundred to his father! "Full marks to head coach Aaqib Javed who supported me no end and told me that I will play all five games even if I fell for nought in the previous four matches," Hasan told Telecom Asia Sport (www.telecomasia.net).
"After scoring two ducks, I was thinking that now I have to go back to domestic cricket and score runs, but the coach, captain Salman Agha, and vice-captain Shadab Khan gave me full support."
Hasan rose from a middle-class background in the Southern Punjab Saraiki city of Layyah. He had to strive to play cricket as the city lacked facilities and had to pay bowlers to bowl at him on the sandy grounds.
"There were no facilities and no players available in the city, so I moved to Islamabad, where my sister supported me to the hilt," said Hasan whose engineer sister used to pick him up and drop him off at the ground daily.
"I played club cricket with tape-ball but coaches told me to play with hard ball, so I joined a club and graduated to play high-level cricket and when I did well in the Kashmir Premier League in 2022, with 241 runs (second highest), then my name propped up and I played in the PSL," recalls Hasan.
Former captains Wasim Akram and Shoaib Malik praised Hasan's talent. Malik predicted the youngster will play for Pakistan in the near future.
Last year's domestic Champions T20 Cup added a new chapter in Hasan's career. He was once again second on the run-getters chart with 312 runs at a strike rate of 142.
"I am indebted to the selectors who gave me a chance," said Hasan. "After the two failures, I was thinking of scoring the first run in international cricket and when it came, I had a sigh of relief.
"Our strategy is to play T20I cricket like other countries are playing, so I have to follow that and keep my feet grounded to score consistently so that my team wins," he said.
Against New Zealand on Friday, Hasan carted seven towering sixes and ten boundaries in his 45-ball 105 not out. His knock coupled with a maiden unbeaten half-century by skipper Salman Agha and a fiery 41 by fellow opener Mohammad Haris helped Pakistan chase the fastest 200-plus target in the history of the shortest format.
Having crossed the first hurdle, Hasan will now be looking forward to riding the momentum in the fourth T20I at Mount Maunganui on Sunday. Winning that match will help the visitors level the five-match series 2-2 with the fifth and final match remaining to be played on Wednesday.
They will play three ODIs following the T20I series and Hasan Nawaz will be hoping to do well in those matches too and cement his place in the squad. www.telecomasia.net
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