Hasan Nawaz: From back-to-back ducks to Pakistan's fastest T20I century

Pakistan Hasan Nawaz has made headlines after scoring the fastest T20I century for his country, reaching the milestone in just 44 balls against New Zealand in the third match of the five-match series.

Hasan Nawaz, 28, was born in Layyah, Punjab, but grew up in a small town six kilometres away. A lack of proper cricket facilities in his hometown forced him to move to Islamabad under the pretext of studying and joined a local cricket club. His sister supported him during his early days in the city.

Hasan got his first major break when he was picked by the Mirpur Royals for the Kashmir Premier League (KPL) in 2022. Playing alongside former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik, he finished as the second-highest run-scorer of the tournament. His impressive performances led to his selection in Northern's squad for the National T20 Cup.

He was later signed by Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL), but he didn't get many chances to showcase his talent. However, his standout performances in the T20 Champions Cup in December 2024 caught the attention of national selectors, earning him a place in Pakistan's squad for the T20I series against New Zealand.

Hasan made his T20I debut on March 16, 2025, in Christchurch but was dismissed for a duck. In the second match in Dunedin, he once again got out without scoring, falling to the same bowler, Jacob Duffy.

Despite back-to-back failures, Hasan bounced back in style in the third T20I in Auckland. Playing with complete confidence, he smashed 105 runs off just 45 balls, hitting seven sixes and ten fours. He played shots all around the ground with an aggressive approach, showcasing the kind of fearless cricket that Pakistan has been searching for.

Backed by his captain and vice-captain, Hasan overcame early struggles and delivered a match-winning performance. He was named Man of the Match for his extraordinary innings.

Speaking after the game, Hasan said, "The way I got out in the first two matches, I was very disheartened. But the captain and Shadab supported me. They told me I am a match-winner, and that gave me confidence."

He added, "The way other teams are playing cricket, that is the kind of cricket we want to play. Sure, we'll fail at the start, but we are determined to play fearless cricket."

Hasan's remarkable turnaround has given Pakistan fresh hope for their aggressive cricket approach in T20Is.