Mike Hesson’s Bold Claim: “Mohammad Nawaz Is the Best Spinner in the World” Ahead of Asia Cup 2025
- Pakistan coach Mike Hesson called Mohammad Nawaz the “best spinner in the world” ahead of Asia Cup 2025.
- Nawaz was Player of the Series in the recent tri-nation event, taking 10 wickets in 5 games.
- Hesson admitted Pakistan’s batting is still developing but praised Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub.
- Pakistan face Oman first on September 12 before the blockbuster clash with India on September 14.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has made a bold claim ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, calling left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz the “best spinner in the world” right now. The statement comes just before Pakistan begin their campaign against Oman in Dubai on Friday, followed by their much-anticipated clash against India on September 14.
Pakistan enter the continental tournament in strong form, having won 10 of their last 13 T20Is, including a tri-nation series in the UAE featuring Afghanistan and the hosts. The standout performer of that series was Nawaz, who bagged 10 wickets in 5 matches at an average of just 11.70, including a game-changing five-wicket haul in the final. His performances earned him the Player of the Series award, cementing his place as one of Pakistan’s most crucial match-winners.
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Hesson, speaking to reporters on the eve of the tournament, heaped praise on Nawaz and the variety Pakistan’s bowling attack now possesses.
“I guess the beauty of our side is we’ve got five spinners. We’ve got Mohammad Nawaz, who’s the best spin bowler in the world at the moment, and he’s been ranked that way over the last six months since he’s come back in the side. And obviously we’ve had Abrar (Ahmed) and Sufiyan (Muqeem) do as well as he has. Saim Ayub is now in the top 10 all-rounders in the world. So obviously that comes on the back of his improved performance with the ball,” Hesson explained.
Pakistan’s spin department is stacked with Nawaz, Abrar Ahmed, and Sufiyan Muqeem as front-line options, while part-timers like Saim Ayub and Salman Ali Agha add further depth. This gives the Men in Green a major advantage on UAE pitches that have historically favored spinners.
While the bowling looks settled, Hesson admitted that Pakistan’s batting unit is still in the development phase. With Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan absent, the team is banking on others to step up. Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub have shown flashes of brilliance, but consistency remains an issue.
“It’s very much a developing batting line up. And there’s a number of players who, on their day, can win you the game, but they don’t have as many good days as you’d like at the moment. I think that’s very fair. The thing for us, though, is we’re more interested in the sum of the parts as a batting group,” Hesson said.
Looking ahead, Nawaz could prove to be Pakistan’s trump card against India. The left-arm spinner has a terrific record against the Men in Blue, claiming 6 wickets in just 3 T20Is. In UAE conditions, Nawaz has been even more lethal, with 21 dismissals in 16 matches at an economy of 6.01, including a five-wicket haul. His ability to control the game in the middle overs and strike at crucial moments makes him a genuine threat to India’s star-studded batting line-up.
Pakistan will be hoping Nawaz continues his dream run when they face Oman on Friday before turning their focus to the high-voltage clash with India on September 14 in Dubai. With Nawaz in peak form and the spin attack firing, the Men in Green look well-equipped to mount a serious challenge in Asia Cup 2025.
