Pakistan's T20 cricket enthusiast Hassan Nawaz embodies the nation's evolving cricket philosophy, following in the footsteps of Shahid Afridi.

Hassan Nawaz, a name that is quickly making waves in the world of T20 cricket, has been hailed as Pakistan's first T20 purist since the legendary Shahid Afridi. This bold assertion comes in light of Nawaz's remarkable start to his international career and his aggressive, yet calculated approach to the game.

In a career spanning just 18 T20I innings, Nawaz has already struck 33 sixes and 22 fours, giving him a six-to-four ratio of 1.5 - the highest among Full Member players with at least 400 runs. This audacious batting style has earned him a place among the top ranks, setting him apart from other Pakistani batters.

Nawaz's strike rate of 166.8 is the fourth highest among the same set of batters, while his balls per six (7.58) places him third. These statistics are a testament to Nawaz's ability to make the most of every opportunity he gets at the crease.

Two of the 21 men who have scored over 400 runs and maintained a strike rate of 150 or more in T20I cricket for a Full Member nation are Shahid Afridi and Hassan Nawaz. This comparison with the legendary Afridi, who was once called the "T20 cricketer before T20s were a thing" by Osman Samiuddin, is a significant feather in Nawaz's cap.

Interestingly, Nawaz did not start his domestic T20 career with a high strike rate. However, after a standout Champions Cup campaign and a stellar performance in the 2025 PSL, his batting style underwent a significant transformation. Mike Hesson, the team's coach, moved Nawaz to the middle-order in May, with the emergence of Sahibzada Farhan at the top and protecting him from any early movement potential motivations for that move.

Despite his meteoric rise, Nawaz has yet to face top-tier international opposition in T20I cricket. This will change soon, as he is set to face India, a high-class outfit, at the Asia Cup. This encounter could raise some skepticism if Nawaz performs poorly, but many believe that he is capable of consistently batting aggressively and posing a significant threat to any bowling attack.

India may underestimate Nawaz at their own risk, as his speed and volume of runs per dismissal (26.06) is a combination that Pakistan have never had before. Fakhar Zaman and Babar Azam are the other Pakistani T20I players who have scored more than 500 runs with a strike rate of at least 150, apart from Shahid Afridi and Hassan Nawaz.

Nawaz's T20I career has been nothing short of extraordinary, marked by a series-opening score of 105* in New Zealand, a performance that set the stage for his continued success. As he continues to grow and adapt, there is no doubt that Hassan Nawaz will continue to make a significant impact on the world of T20 cricket.

Pakistan's T20 cricket enthusiast Hassan Nawaz embodies the nation's evolving cricket philosophy, following in the footsteps of Shahid Afridi.