Big-hitting Hasan Nawaz needs to refine his ground strokes: Sadiq Mohammad

Pakistan appears to have unearthed a talented power-hitter in Hasan Nawaz, who has been making his mark in white-ball cricket.

On his recent ODI debut, he played a match-winning knock of 63* to steer Pakistan to a five-wicket win in the series opener against the West Indies on their home soil. In the rain-hit second ODI, which Pakistan lost by five wickets, he again impressed with an unbeaten 36.

While his ability is clear, experts suggest he still has work to do to refine his game and reach the level of an elite international batsman.

Former Pakistan Test opener Sadiq Mohammad emphasized that Hasan needs to work on developing his ground strokes and wrist work.

“He needs to focus on playing ground strokes and should aim to play in front of the square,” Sadiq told Nukta.

“Improving his wrist work is also essential. In ODIs, you have time on your hands and rotating the strike and taking singles and twos is crucial. While he can hit big shots, he must overcome these shortcomings if he wants to succeed at the highest level. Otherwise, quality bowlers will exploit his weaknesses,” he said.

Sadiq pointed out that it is the responsibility of coaches to help players like Hasan to refine their techniques in the nets.

“Batsmen should also learn from players like Babar Azam, who has developed a strong ability to rotate the strike and build innings effectively,” he added. “Batting is an art and games are often won or lost because of it. Unless a batsman is competent in all zones they will struggle. Smart bowlers will always look to exploit your vulnerable areas,” he said.

The 80-year-old also expressed concern over pacer Shaheen Afridi’s recent bowling form.

“Shaheen used to swing the new ball in earlier stages of his career but he is not doing that anymore which is a worrying sign. Without swing it’s difficult to make an impact and these days he seems to rely too much on slower balls and short-pitched deliveries,” he observed.

Looking ahead to the third and final ODI against the West Indies scheduled for Tuesday, the former cricketer stressed the importance of a solid batting approach.

“Pakistan needs a strong start at the top. A positive and consistent top-order performance is crucial to post a competitive total. Without significant contributions from the top, it's difficult to set or chase targets in ODIs,” he said.

“Winning is extremely important for Pakistan right now to improve its ICC rankings,” he added.

Sadiq also voiced concerns about wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris’s approach in T20 cricket.

“He needs to understand the importance of staying at the crease. Trying to hit a six off every delivery is not how cricket is played,” Sadiq said.

Furthermore, he advised the T20I team captain Salman Agha to bat at his own position and lead from the front.

“He is often seen promoting youngsters up the order possibly to gain praise for giving others a chance. But that is not always the best approach. He is a quality batsman and should focus on making an impact by batting in his regular position. If he does not score runs, he will also be kicked out of the team,” Sadiq concluded.