'Axed' Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan finally react to Hasan Nawaz’s historic T20I ton vs NZ

Pakistan's senior cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were in awe of the new Pakistan team after they stunned New Zealand in the third T20I at Auckland. Both Babar and Rizwan congratulated the team on the victory and specifically mentioned Hasan Nawaz for his memorable knock.

Hasan Nawaz scored a scintillating hundred in just the third international match of his career and took Pakistan to a much-needed win which has kept the series alive. Nawaz was fantastic during this knock as his counter-attacking brilliance deflated New Zealand.

He was well supported by his opening partner Mohammad Haris and the captain Salman Ali Agha. While Haris scored a quickfire 41 off just 20 balls, Agha remained unbeaten on 51 off just 31 balls as Pakistan reached the target quite comfortably in the end.

Also read: Hasan Nawaz demolishes Babar Azam's all-time record in just his 3rd T20I

Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan congratulate Hasan Nawaz and Pakistan

Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan took to Instagram to congratulate Pakistan on a brilliant win. "Proud of you boys," Babar posted on his Instagram story with the picture of Nawaz and Mohammad Haris.

Babar Azam Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/5SKVX5wSzu

— 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞 (@CallMeSheri1) March 21, 2025

Pakistan's ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan also shared an Instagram story with the caption, "Well played Hasan Nawaz and Team Pakistan." He posted a picture of Hasan Nawaz with the Player of the Match award.

Muhammad Rizwan Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/qvH6pih5Gb

— 𝙎𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙞 (@CallMeSheri1) March 21, 2025

Magnificent hitting from Pakistan batters

It was a stunning display of aggressive batting from Nawaz as he was absolutely brutal during this knock. He started the innings in an aggressive fashion and once he got his eye in, he kept on smashing the ball around the park.

Nawaz made full use of the shorter boundaries at Eden Park and used the ground dimensions to his effect. He formed a breathtaking partnership of 74 runs for the first wicket with the wicketkeeper Mohammad Haris who gave Pakistan a flying start.

Haris was dismissed for a 20-ball-41 but Nawaz carried on with his aggressive batting display along with his captain Salman Ali Agha, who held one end together. They didn't care whether it was spin or pace and just attacked New Zealand's bowling line-up.

Nawaz reached his hundred off just 44 balls, thus breaking the record of Babar Azam, who earlier held the record of the fastest hundred by a Pakistani in T20Is. Babar had reached the three-figure mark off 49 balls.

But it was Nawaz's day and he shattered several records on the day as Pakistan reached the target of 205 runs in just 16 overs. It is also the quickest 200-plus run chase in T20I cricket.

Why were Babar Azam, and Mohammad Rizwan dropped?

Both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were dropped from Pakistan's T20I squad for this series after the selectors decided to pick a young team that can play freely with an aggressive intent.

Babar and Rizwan are conservative players and their low strike rates are always the talking point. The team management believed that it was time to move ahead with the game and a totally new team was selected under the captaincy of Salman Ali Agha.

While Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan are not in the T20I scheme of things, both of them are in Pakistan's ODI squad. The ODI series between these two teams will be played after the ongoing T20Is.