Hasan Nawaz made a crucial contribution during Pakistan's victory over Bangladesh in the first T20I in Lahore on Wednesday (May 28).
Hasan Nawaz, Hasan Ali shine in first PAK vs BAN T20I
Electing to bat first, Pakistan lost both their openers by the seventh ball of their innings, slipping to 5-2. Mohammad Haris (31 off 18) and Salman Agha (56 off 34) added 48 for the third wicket before Nawaz came out to bat at No.5.
Nawaz hit the fourth ball he faced, off Rishad Hossain, for six. Three overs later, he hit another six off Rishad before smoking a no-ball by Hasan Mahmud over the ropes. Nawaz's onslaught against Rishad wasn't over. In the 14th over, Nawaz went 6, 4, 4 off the first three deliveries by the leg-spinner before handing a return catch to him to perish on 44 off 22.
Pakisan were 139-5 when Nawaz was dismissed with 6.2 overs remaining. They finished on 201-7, courtesy of vice-captain Shadab Khan's 48 off 25 balls. Bangladesh were bowled out for 164 with returning quick Hasan Ali taking a career-best 5-30 as Pakistan won by 37 runs.
1st T20I, Pakistan vs Bangladesh
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Hasan Nawaz's extraordinary T20I career
This was Nawaz's sixth T20I. The 22-year-old made his debut earlier this year against New Zealand and had a truly remarkable run of games. After recording two ducks in his first two matches, Nawaz blasted the fastest T20I hundred for Pakistan - 105 not out off 45 balls - while opening the innings. He then followed it up with scores of one and zero in the last two matches.
His 44 against Bangladesh was his first T20I score between one and 105.
Nawaz came into the series on the back of a successful PSL campaign, scoring 399 runs at an average and strike rate of 57 and 162 for the victorious Lahore Qalandars. His success as a middle-order basher saw Pakistan use him in a similar role in the first T20I, a move that paid off. They'd now hope he can continue in his rich vein of form and make a permanent home in the Pakistan T20I middle order.
Hasan Nawaz in T20I cricket
| Score | Position | Opponent | Venue | Date |
| 0 (2) | Opening | New Zealand | Christchurch | March 16, 2025 |
| 0 (3) | Opening | New Zealand | Dunedin | March 18, 2025 |
| 105* (45) | Opening | New Zealand | Auckland | March 21, 2025 |
| 1 (4) | Opening | New Zealand | Mount Maunganui | March 23, 2025 |
| 0 (3) | Opening | New Zealand | Wellington | March 26, 2025 |
| 44 (22) | No.5 | Bangladesh | Lahore | May 28, 2025 |
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