As Pakistan gears up for their Asia Cup 2025 opener against Oman on Friday, September 12, head coach Mike Hesson has heaped praise on his spin attack—especially left-arm spinner Mohammad Nawaz, who he boldly claimed is the best spinner in world cricket right now.
Mohammad Nawaz’s Red-Hot Form in 2025
Mohammad Nawaz has enjoyed a remarkable resurgence this year. The 31-year-old left-arm spinner has taken 20 wickets in 2025 at an incredible average of just 10.90. Most recently, he grabbed headlines with a match-winning five-wicket haul, including a hat-trick, against Afghanistan on September 7.
Speaking to the press ahead of Pakistan’s tournament opener, Hesson said, “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. He’s been ranked that way over the last six months since he’s come back into the side.”
Alongside Nawaz, Hesson also highlighted the performances of young spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem. “And obviously we’ve had Abrar and Sufiyan do as well as he has. Saim Ayub is now in the top ten all-rounders in the world. That comes on the back of his improved performance with the ball,” Hesson added. He also mentioned Salman Ali Agha, who, despite limited opportunities recently, is still regarded as a key Test spinner for the national side.
Pakistan’s Batting Line-Up a “Work in Progress”
While the spin department looks settled and in fine form, Pakistan’s batting remains a work in progress. With experienced stalwarts Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan missing from the squad, the team has turned to a younger crop of batters.
Hesson was candid in his assessment of the batting unit: “It’s very much a developing batting line-up. There are players who, on their day, can win you a game, but right now, they don’t have as many of those good days as we’d like.”
He emphasized a collective approach to batting, saying, “We’re more interested in the sum of the parts as a group. Sometimes 150 is enough, other times 190 might not be. It’s about assessing conditions and delivering what’s needed to win.”
Looking ahead, Pakistan will face their toughest group-stage test against India on September 14. The rivalry has been lopsided recently, with India winning convincingly in their last two ICC encounters. Still, Hesson remains optimistic.
“We know India are hugely confident—and rightfully so—but for us, it’s about improving every day. We’re not focused on the enormity of the challenge, but we do see it as a big opportunity, and we’re definitely looking forward to it,” he concluded.
