Pakistan are set to begin their Asia Cup 2025 campaign with a clash against Oman in the fourth match of the tournament at Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Ahead of the high-voltage encounter, Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson has made headlines with a bold statement on the world’s best spinner in modern-day cricket. Surprisingly, his choice was not Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan, who is often regarded as the face of spin bowling in T20 cricket, but Pakistan’s left-arm spinner.
Mike Hesson names the best spinner currently
Hesson, the former New Zealand coach who took charge of Pakistan earlier this year, expressed great faith in Mohammad Nawaz during the pre-match press conference. He highlighted the left-arm spinner’s consistency and control as the reason behind his selection.
“The beauty of our team is that we have five spinners. We have Mohammad Nawaz, who is the best spin bowler in the world currently. His ranking has remained at the same level in the last six months since his comeback,” Hesson remarked.
This revelation came as a surprise to many fans and experts, especially since the cricketing world is brimming with elite spinners like Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Wanindu Hasaranga, Noor Ahmad, Keshav Maharaj, Varun Chakaravarthy, and Mehidy Hasan Miraz. By overlooking these names and even Rashid, Hesson’s strong backing of Nawaz underlines Pakistan’s confidence in their spin attack.
Pakistan’s campaign and key fixtures
Pakistan, led by Salman Ali Agha, will aim to start their Asia Cup 2025 journey on a positive note against Oman. While Oman enter the tournament as underdogs with nothing to lose, Pakistan are under pressure to deliver given their passionate fanbase and the high expectations surrounding them.
The Men in Green’s biggest test will come on September 14 when they lock horns with arch-rivals India. The Pakistan vs India clash is considered the marquee fixture of the tournament, and Hesson’s tactical reliance on spinners like Nawaz could play a defining role in that contest.
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New-look Pakistan side under scrutiny
This year’s Pakistan squad has already made headlines due to the absence of star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, both of whom were dropped ahead of the Asia Cup. Their exclusion has sparked debates, with some critics questioning the team’s batting depth. Fakhar Zaman is expected to shoulder the responsibility at the top, while young talents will look to step up under Agha’s leadership.
On the bowling front, however, Pakistan appear stronger, with the likes of Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Hasan Ali providing pace firepower. The spin department, led by Nawaz, will be expected to exploit conditions in the UAE that traditionally favour slower bowlers.
