DUBAI: Mohammad Nawaz wants to be a “proper all-rounder” after his batting blitz set up a thrilling win for Pakistan against arch-rivals India in the Asia Cup Super Four.
Chasing 182 for victory, Pakistan achieved the target with one ball and five wickets to spare in Dubai after Muhammad Rizwan hit 71 and Nawaz made 42.
Nawaz, a left-arm spinner who usually bats at eight but was promoted to number four, joined Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand.
The 28-year-old Nawaz smashed six fours and two sixes in his 20-ball knock to put the chase on track.
Nawaz, who returned bowling figures of 1-25 in India’s 181-7, also took three catches and was named man of the match.
“To play such an innings in a high-pressure game has definitely given me confidence,” Nawaz told reporters after Sunday’s victory in the regional T20 tournament which acts as a tune-up for the World Cup in October.
“I have got the opportunity to grow as a player and I will try my best to live up to the rising expectations.
“I will work hard and try to perform better as a proper all-rounder for the Pakistan team.”
Nawaz fell in the 16th over and soon Rizwan was out after his second successive half-century.
Khushdil Shah (unbeaten 14) and Asif Ali, who made 16 off eight balls, hauled Pakistan over the line in a tense final over as they avenged their loss to India earlier in the tournament.
“We wanted to take it as deep as we could because the kind of players we have in Khushdil and Asif, even if we need 10-12 runs per over, they can easily get it,” Rizwan said.
India’s Virat Kohli, who returned to form with 60 off 44 balls to hold the Indian innings together until he got run out in the last over, said Nawaz’s knock made the difference.
“They took a chance to promote him and extend his batting stay and if the situation gets difficult they have (recognized) batsmen left,” Kohli told reporters.
“So the way he batted it was a game-changing moment, the way I read the game.”
The top two teams in the Super Four, which also has Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, will make the Asia Cup final on September 11.
Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz wants to be ‘proper all-rounder’ after thrilling performance in Dubai
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Pakistan’s Mohammad Nawaz wants to be ‘proper all-rounder’ after thrilling performance in Dubai
- Nawaz, a left-arm spinner, joined Muhmmad Rizwan when the score was 63-2 and the two put on a key stand
- He also returned bowling figures of 1-25, took three catches and was named man of the match after victory against India
MESIF 2026 wraps up in Riyadh with spotlight on legacy, fans and sustainable sports growth
- A recurring theme in panel discussions was the importance of moving beyond siloed planning toward connected strategies
- Abdullah Aldrees: I believe Saudi is a sleeping giant within the football ecosystem because of the high demand that exists
RIYADH: The sixth edition of the Middle East Sports Investment Forum concluded on Jan. 28 in Riyadh, reinforcing the need for long-term legacy planning, integrated infrastructure development and fan-centric strategies as the region’s sports ecosystem continues to mature.
Held over two days — Jan. 27-28 — at the ministry of investment headquarters and the Kingdom Arena, the forum brought together senior government officials, global sports executives, investors and technology leaders to assess how the Middle East — and Saudi Arabia in particular — can translate major event hosting and increased investment into sustainable impact.
A recurring theme in panel discussions was the importance of moving beyond siloed planning toward connected strategies that link infrastructure, finance, fan engagement and legacy from the earliest stages of project development.
Dr. Sakis Batsilas, deputy CEO of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, stressed that while international expertise has played a key role in the region’s rapid progress, long-term success depends on knowledge transfer and talent development.
“Yes, we do need experts and consultants and expatriates to help,” he said. “But the main, I would say, focus, is how we ensure that we transfer this knowledge and we build talent … to make sure we have the right talent.”
Drawing on his experience delivering major global events, Batsilas highlighted the need to embed legacy considerations during the bidding phase.
“Talking now from an operational point of view … I think everything starts with a bidding phase,” he said, adding that stronger legacy metrics would encourage greater long-term planning from host nations and rights holders alike.
Fan experience and commercialization also featured prominently, particularly as Saudi Arabia continues to expand its domestic leagues and host major international competitions. David Davies, chief experience officer of Catapult, said the Kingdom’s challenge lies in converting strong digital fandom into sustained in-stadium engagement.
“Saudi Arabia is … ranked consistently in the highest in the world” in terms of football fandom, Davies said. “However, attendance in-stadium is still developing.” He noted that younger, digitally native audiences require tailored engagement strategies. “The days of being able to ask them to come to you have gone,” he said.
From a government and delivery perspective, Abdullah Aldrees, chief of staff at the vice minister’s executive office at the ministry of sport, said MESIF highlighted the scale of opportunity ahead — and the importance of a joined-up approach.
“I believe Saudi is a sleeping giant within the football ecosystem because of the high demand that exists, the government support and the anchor IPs that we’re hosting,” Aldrees said. “So all of this can create a lot of opportunities for football to grow in Saudi.”
He said the Kingdom has entered a critical preparation phase as it gears up for a packed calendar of major events. “We are now living in the preparation phase. We’re preparing for all these IPs, we’re preparing for all these big events coming up,” Aldrees said. “So how do you make sure that you really reap the right benefit from them and have the right legacy?”
Pointing to upcoming milestones such as the AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 and the FIFA World Cup 2034, Aldrees emphasized the need to think beyond hosting.
“Yes, we’re hosting World Cup. We’re hosting Asia 2027, but how do you make sure that they have a long, lasting impact on the ecosystem?” he said.
Echoing a key message from the forum, Aldrees concluded: “The effective strategy is to be looking at these things together. We no longer can be looking at them as silos and test cycles.”
The transformation of Saudi football was also highlighted as a reflection of broader cultural and structural change. Juan Esteban Gomez, a football expert specializing in digitalization and artificial intelligence, said the shift has been tangible in recent years. “The people here are breathing football,” he said, describing the Saudi league as “one of the most enjoyable competitions in the world.”
As MESIF 2026 drew to a close, participants agreed that the next phase of sports investment in the Middle East will be defined by execution — ensuring that capital, policy and innovation align to deliver measurable legacy, deeper fan engagement and resilient ecosystems capable of sustaining growth well beyond headline events.
