Pakistan’s Hasan Nawaz performs a shot throughout the third T20I towards New Zealand on the Eden Park in Auckland on March 21, 2025. — PCB
AUCKLAND: Rising batter Hasan Nawaz has opened up on his record-breaking century towards New Zealand, serving to Pakistan to remain alive within the ongoing five-match T20I sequence.
The precise-handed opener, one of many a number of children in Pakistan’s squad for New Zealand T20Is, made his worldwide debut on Sunday in Christchurch.
Nevertheless, his worldwide debut was removed from best, as he was dismissed for a two-ball duck. His struggles continued within the second T20I, the place he did not open his account as soon as once more.
Because of this, Nawaz turned simply the sixth batter from a full-member nation within the historical past of the format to register the undesirable document of registering two geese of their first two males’s T20I innings.
The 22-year-old, nevertheless, made an astounding comeback by smashing a 44-ball century – the quickest for Pakistan within the shortest format – and led the inexperienced shirts to a document record-shattering victory.
For his swashbuckling century, Hasan Nawaz was adjudged the participant of the match.
Talking on the post-match presentation ceremony, the top-order batter mentioned that he was ‘disheartened’ after falling for consecutive geese in his first two innings.
Nevertheless, he mentioned, skipper Salman Ali Agha and Shadab Khan supported him by highlighting his match-winning talents.
“The way I got out in first two matches, I was very disheartened, but captain and Shadab supported me, told me I am a match-winning player and that helped me.
“I just had in my mind that I need to score a single first in international cricket and then after that I felt relaxed and the pressure was released.
“I had so much backing and I am so grateful to my captain.”
