Pakistan coach believes THIS spinner is 'the best in the world' leading to India match

Pakistan's head coach Mike Hesson made bold claims ahead of their Asia Cup clash with India. He declared Mohammad Nawaz as "the best spin bowler in the world" during Thursday's press conference before Pakistan's match against Oman. This statement raised eyebrows as Nawaz currently ranks 30th in ICC T20I rankings.

Hesson's remarks reminded many of Imran Khan's style from the 1980s, when he would confidently praise Pakistani players like Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad, and Abdul Qadir as the world's best. However, Hesson's claims seemed less convincing, especially when discussing Pakistan's spin bowling options.

"When you have got wrist spinners like that, it doesn't really matter about the surface as much. I guess the beauty of our side is we've got five spinners," Hesson told PTI. He also made a claim about Saim Ayub being among the top 10 all-rounders globally.

Pakistan's spin attack for the tournament includes Mohammad Nawaz, Sufiyan Muqeem, and Abrar Ahmed, alongside five pace bowling options. Their batting lineup features emerging talents like Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, and Muhammad Harris.



The former RCB head coach expressed excitement about the upcoming India-Pakistan clash. "Look, I've certainly watched many games from afar. With other teams or commentating. So certainly being on the other side of the fence, I guess, you know, being right there amongst, you know, such a highly charged audience is going to be exciting," he said.

The coach defended his young batting lineup's ability to face spin bowling. He pointed to their recent success against Afghanistan, whom he called "probably the best wrist-spin attack in the world." Pakistan won that tri-series final by 75 runs, scoring 140 runs on a challenging pitch.

Hesson acknowledged his team's developing batting lineup but emphasised their collective performance. He noted their consistent scoring above par in Sharjah, including innings of 200 and 180 runs.

Who is Pakistan's Mohammad Nawaz?

Mohammad Nawaz of Pakistan bowls during the UAE T20I Tri-Series Final match between Pakistan and Afghanistan at Sharjah Cricket Stadium. (Getty Images)

Mohammad Nawaz began his cricketing journey at 14 as a left-arm medium-fast bowler and a middle-order batter. He delivered an all-round display of 60 runs and four wickets for Rawalpindi against Sialkot in the 2008 inter-region Under-16 tournament, earning a spot with Pakistan for the International Under-15 Championship in the West Indies.

On the Caribbean’s slow pitches, he shifted to left-arm spin and evolved into a spin-bowling all-rounder, guided by coach Ameer Akbar and team manager Haroon Rashid.

Nawaz attended FG Boys School in Rawalpindi but left college to concentrate on cricket. In the first four seasons after his first-class debut in 2012, he amassed 1,440 runs with three centuries and seven half-centuries, and he claimed 44 wickets at an average of 24.4.

He represented Quetta Gladiators in the inaugural Pakistan Super League, finishing as the tournament’s third-highest wicket-taker with 13 dismissals. This performance earned him a place in Pakistan’s T20 squad for the 2016 Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

Mohammad Nawaz's record for Pakistan

The 31-year-old has played six Test matches for Pakistan, scoring 144 runs and taking 16 wickets in the process.

He's played 39 ODIs and 71 T20Is as well for the Men in Green. In 50-over matches, Nawaz has piled 434 runs and taken 45 wickets while his output in T20Is is 638 runs and 70 wickets.


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