Who is Azan Awais? 21-year-old Pakistan opener scored century on Test debut versus Bangladesh

21-year-old Azan Awais announced himself on the grandest stage in some fashion, scoring an eye-catching hundred on Test debut for Pakistan in the ongoing first Test against Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Mirpur. With this scintillating knock, Awais became the fourteenth Pakistani batter to score a hundred on his Test debut.

Both Pakistan and the debutant were under immense pressure as the visiting side trailed by Bangladesh's mammoth 413-run total. Despite the pressure, Awais not only kept his cool but also dominated the Bangladeshi bowlers, playing sumptuous strokes during his stay at the crease, where he made 103 off 165, laced with 14 beautiful fours. Such a mature knock at a tender age made fans wonder who this talent is.

Azan Awais: Background and History

Azan Awais is a 21-year-old First-Class cricketer born on October 10, 2004, in Sialkot. He plays in the domestic circuit for Gujranwala Giants and Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited. After a string of impressive performances in domestic matches, Awais got the opportunity to make his Test debut against Bangladesh, with star player Babar Azam injured due to a left knee injury.

Before becoming a Test cricketer, Awais had represented his teams in 33 matches, raking up a staggering 2673 runs at an average of 48.60, which was enough for the selectors to take a note of his immense potential. The left-handed opening batter was also the leading run-getter in the 2024-25 season of the prestigious Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, compiling 844 runs in just eight matches. He already has ten centuries in domestic cricket with a highest score of 203 not out, which showcases his ability to make big scores. 

He replicated the same on his Test debut as well. Awais opened alongside Imam-ul-Haq in his maiden appearance, donning the Pakistan whites. While Imam played a cautious knock in the 106-run stand for the first wicket, it was the toiling of the youngster that made roars of his talent and preparedness at the highest level, also showing his excellent temperament to not loose the momentum. It left Imam mightily impressed.

"You should prioritise red-ball domestic cricket. Azan has played 33 first-class matches and scored 10 hundreds. His record speaks for itself. He was batting under pressure. There was lateral movement, and the Bangladesh bowlers were playing with decent pace. He held his composure. He absorbed all the pressure, and it really helps having played so much domestic cricket," Imam said as per ESPNcricinfo.