The young batter says time away from the national side helped him rebuild confidence before his impressive Asian Games return.
Hasan Nawaz has revealed that Mike Hesson and the Pakistan coaching staff provided him with a detailed development plan after he was dropped from the national T20I side, helping him prepare for his return to international cricket.
The 24-year-old batter made a strong comeback during the Asian Games 2026, producing one of Pakistan’s most memorable individual performances in the tournament. His 96 against India in the men’s T20I final was not enough to secure the gold medal, but the innings significantly boosted his confidence.
Hasan Nawaz Learns From India Defeat
Pakistan were chasing 212 against India but finished 19 runs short. Nawaz led the response with an aggressive 96, becoming the highest individual scorer in a T20I meeting between the two traditional rivals.
Reflecting on the defeat, Nawaz said Pakistan had been within reach of victory but lost momentum because of a couple of overs in the middle of the innings. He stressed that the team must learn from those errors rather than remain focused on the setback.
The batter also believes the rivalry will provide Pakistan with more opportunities to respond in future matches.
Hesson Provided a Clear Development Plan
Nawaz was left out of Pakistan’s T20I setup in November last year. During his time away, he said Hesson and the other coaches gave him several areas to work on, which he subsequently followed.
The right-hander also highlighted the value of playing domestic cricket on challenging pitches. According to Nawaz, facing unfamiliar bowlers and dealing with difficult local conditions helped strengthen his game.
Confidence Grows After Asian Games Knock
Despite the disappointment against India, Nawaz said performing against a highly ranked opponent gave him considerable confidence. He had travelled from the Caribbean Premier League to Japan determined to contribute to Pakistan’s gold-medal campaign.
His impressive showing has now earned him another opportunity at international level. Nawaz is part of Pakistan’s squad for the upcoming three-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, giving him a chance to build on his Asian Games performance.
With his confidence restored and the lessons from his time outside the national side behind him, Nawaz will now look to establish himself as a regular part of Pakistan’s T20I plans.