A white-ball head coach of Pakistan, Mike Hesson has already made headlines when he proclaimed Mohammad Nawaz as the best spinner in the world in T20 cricket and this statement is made before the Asia Cup 2025. This is after the Kiwi coach gave a confident evaluation of the spin bowling department of Pakistan as the team gears towards opening their tournament with Oman on September 12 in Dubai.
Before the start of the Pakistan-Oman game, Hesson was highly complimentary of the depth of spin in Pakistan, but he termed Mohammad Nawaz the greatest spinner in the world. The coach also stressed the wonderful depth of spin bowling in Pakistan, which in turn underlines the versatility of this team and the possibilities of its tactics in the UAE conditions.
What is fine about our side is that we have five spinners. Mohammad Nawaz is the greatest spinner of the world and we have Sufiyan and Abrar. With Saim Ayub now one of the top-10 all-rounders we have many options when conditions favor us and that is what Hesson said in his pre-tournament press conference.
This announcement places considerable emphasis on Mohammad Nawaz who has been the best left arm spinner in Pakistan in the limited overs cricket. This is because the all-rounder can play both with bat and ball and as such he is a great addition to the strategic planning of the tournament by Pakistan.
The team of Pakistan has specialist spinners Abrar Ahmed and Sufiyan Muqeem, and Mohammad Nawaz, and Saim Ayub and team captain Salman Ali Agha are available as other spin options. This is what enables tactical flexibility to Pakistan particularly in the UAE ground which traditionally favours spin bowling at various points in the game.
Five spin options show the readiness of Pakistan to fit into the local conditions. Abrar Ahmed offers his spin variations as mystery and Sufiyan Muqeem offers left-arm wrist spin as a weapon. The rise of Saim Ayub as an all-rounder introduces one more aspect of the balanced policy of Pakistan.
The ability of captain Salman Ali Agha to spin the ball also increases the spin bowling capacity of the team providing Hesson with several options to use based on the circumstances of the match and weaknesses of the opponent.
The spin depth of the playing surfaces in Dubai has long supported spin bowling in different phases of T20 games, a factor that makes the spin depth of Pakistan especially pertinent in regards to the Asia Cup 2025. The team’s recent tri-series win in Sharjah, in which it came out the triumphant team defeating Afghanistan in the final match of the tri-series has given it a good acclimatization to similar conditions.
Pakistan on August 28, ahead of the start of their Asia Cup campaign on September 12, closed a 75-run victory over Afghanistan in the final of the UAE T20I Tri-Series 2025. This overpower performance has enhanced the confidence of the team as well as justified the tactical approach by Hesson.
The victory in the preparatory tri-series proved that Pakistan could perform game plans well in UAE conditions and their spin bowling attack has been instrumental all through the tournament.
New coach, Mike Hesson and a new captain, Salman Ali Agha are beginning to see Pakistan become one of the better T20I teams again. The coach has put special emphasis on developing a balanced team that will adapt to various match situations and circumstances.
Pace bowling department comprises well established stars in Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf backed by Hasan Ali, Mohammad Wasim Jr and Salman Mirza. Such a mixture offers experience and diversity in the fast bowling attack.
The batting unit has explosive arrangements, such as Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Mohammad Haris and Hasan Nawaz, with some players presenting second line bowling expertise to the team that increases the tactical flexibility of the team.
The Asia Cup campaign of Pakistan starts with their encounter with Oman on the first day of September 12 at Dubai, then on the next day, September 14, it is the much-hyped match against India at the same venue. The team will later take UAE on September 17, and maybe advance to the Super Four stage.
The tournament format enables Pakistan to gain momentum during the group stage and their spin-heavy approach can turn out decisive during the later parts of the tournament.
The New Zealand coach has always given prominence on how Pakistan has developed through his leadership and he has termed the team as a perfect combination of experience and youth. His trust in Mohammad Nawaz indicates wider trust in the tactical strategy used by Pakistan and the development of its players.
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The win of the Green Shirts in the tri-nation series also acted as a confidence builder by the team in the run up to the Asia Cup 2025 and Mike Hesson particularly touted the contributions of players such as Fakhar Zaman to the team recent success.
The statement made by Hesson claiming that Mohammad Nawaz is the best T20 spinner in the world is an important international advertising on Pakistan cricket. This recommendation of an international coach who is reputable shows the quality that comes out of the domestic system of Pakistan.
The trust of his coach in his spin bowling suggests that Pakistan regards the Asia Cup 2025 as a possibility to establish themselves as the dominant team in the field of T20 cricket, and the level of their spin bowling is the tool of differentiation with other leading teams.
With Pakistan about to open the tournament against Oman, the aggressive headlines of Hesson have raised much expectation on spin bowling of the Pakistan team in the entire tournament. The next weeks will determine whether Mohammad Nawaz and the spin arsenal of Pakistan will be able to live up to the high proclamations of their coach on the international arena.