Hasan Nawaz breaks Babar Azam’s record in third T20I against New Zealand

Hasan Nawaz played a brilliant knock of 105 runs not out from just 45 balls, leading Pakistan to a commanding nine-wicket victory

PHOTO: PCB

Pakistan's young opening batter, Hasan Nawaz, made history in the third T20I against New Zealand by breaking Babar Azam’s record for the fastest century in T20I cricket for Pakistan.

Chasing a challenging target of 205 runs, Hasan played a brilliant knock of 105 runs not out from just 45 balls, leading Pakistan to a commanding nine-wicket victory. His innings included 17 boundaries, including seven sixes, as he led the chase with confidence.

The 22-year-old, who made his debut in the series' opening match, had a tough start to the series with ducks in his first two games. However, he turned things around in spectacular fashion, reaching his century in just 44 balls, breaking Babar Azam’s previous record of 49 balls for the fastest T20I century by a Pakistani batter. Babar had set this record during a T20I match against South Africa in 2021.

Fastest T20I centuries for Pakistan:

44 balls – Hasan Nawaz vs New Zealand, Auckland, March 21, 2025
49 balls – Babar Azam vs South Africa, Centurion, 2021
58 balls – Ahmed Shehzad vs Bangladesh, Dhaka, 2014
58 balls – Babar Azam vs New Zealand, Lahore, 2023

Earlier, Pakistan won the toss and chose to field first. They restricted New Zealand to 204 runs, with Mark Chapman leading the charge for the hosts with a quick-fire knock of 94 runs.

In response, Pakistan chased down the target comfortably in just 16 overs. Along with Hasan Nawaz’s century, captain Salman Ali Agha contributed with an unbeaten half-century, and Mohammad Haris added 41 runs.

With this win, Pakistan has kept their hopes alive in the series, which now stands at 2-1 in favor of New Zealand. The final two matches of the series will be played in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.

After the conclusion of the T20I series, the two teams will face off in a three-match ODI series starting on March 29 in Napier. The second ODI will be played on April 2 in Hamilton, and the third ODI will take place in Mount Maunganui on April 5.