Daijiworld Media Network - Karachi

Karachi, Sep 11: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson fired an early shot before the high-voltage Asia Cup showdown with India, calling left-arm spinner Mohammed Nawaz “the best spin bowler in the world at the moment.”

Speaking ahead of Pakistan’s game against Oman, Hesson praised the team’s spin depth, naming Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Muqeem, Salman Ali Agha, and all-rounder Saim Ayub as key options. “The beauty of our side is we’ve got five spinners. Nawaz has been ranked the best over the last six months since his comeback,” Hesson told reporters.

However, his claim raised eyebrows as ICC T20I rankings currently place Nawaz at No. 30, not in the top 15. Hesson also asserted that Saim Ayub is among the world’s top ten all-rounders, another statement yet to be reflected in official rankings.

Confident of his team’s batting against spin, Hesson cited Pakistan’s tri-nation final win over Afghanistan in Sharjah, where they posted 140 on a tricky surface and won by 75 runs. “We’ve faced world-class wrist-spin attacks and scored 70 more than the opposition,” he said.

Acknowledging that Pakistan’s batting lineup—featuring Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Ali Agha, Hasan Nawaz, and Muhammad Harris—is still developing, Hesson noted their ability to “scrap above par” totals on challenging pitches.

Looking ahead to the India clash, Hesson, a former IPL coach and commentator, said he is excited to experience the electric atmosphere from the dugout: “Being right there among such a highly charged audience is going to be exciting.”