Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, has firmly denied any suggestions that he asked former captain Babar Azam to take up wicket-keeping to secure a spot in the T20I squad. This clarification comes amidst Babar’s continued exclusion from the T20I team, including the upcoming series against Bangladesh.
Dispelling the Wicket-Keeping Rumour
Rumours had been circulating that Babar Azam, dropped from the T20I squad earlier in March alongside Mohammad Rizwan, was asked by team management to adopt an additional role like wicket-keeping to regain his place. Hesson addressed these speculations directly, stating unequivocally that such a discussion never took place.
The coach emphasized that Babar has never kept wickets in his career and that suggesting such a drastic change would be disrespectful to a player of his stature. “This is not the way to treat a former captain and senior,” Hesson reportedly told reporters, firmly rejecting the notion that Babar is considered a wicket-keeping option.
Babar Azam’s Current Competition
While clearing the air on the wicket-keeping front, Hesson did shed light on Babar Azam’s current situation regarding T20I selection. He explained that Babar is actively competing for one of the opening batsman positions in the squad. However, those roles are currently filled by Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub.
This indicates that despite being Pakistan’s highest-ever T20I run-scorer with 4223 runs at an average close to 40, Babar faces stiff competition for a top-order spot in the shortest format.
Addressing the Strike Rate Debate
Another key aspect of the discussion around Babar’s exclusion has been his T20I strike rate, which stands at a middling 129.22. Hesson clarified that he had not specifically stated that only players with a strike rate north of 150 would be considered for T20Is.
He acknowledged the critical importance of strike rate in modern T20 cricket, but stressed that it must be combined with a significant volume of runs. Hesson admitted that Pakistan’s relatively low ranking in T20 cricket is, in part, due to the team’s batting strike rates not being high enough.
The team has recently made efforts to embrace a more aggressive and expansive style of play to align with global T20 trends, aiming to “catch up with the rest of the world.”
Focus on Improvement
Despite the challenges, Hesson expressed confidence in Babar Azam’s capacity to improve his scoring rates. He affirmed his commitment to working with Babar and other players to help them enhance their game. Hesson highlighted that the team often falls short by 30-40 runs with the bat, underscoring the collective need to boost scoring. Babar, like many others, has the ability to make these necessary improvements.
- Coach Mike Hesson denied asking Babar Azam to take up wicket-keeping for T20I re-entry.
- Babar is currently competing for an opening batting spot, which is presently occupied by Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub.
- Hesson clarified that while strike rate is crucial, no specific 150+ benchmark was set for T20I selection.
- Pakistan’s team performance in T20s is impacted by insufficient batting strike rates, a key area for improvement.
The focus remains on helping Babar Azam evolve his game to meet the dynamic demands of modern T20 cricket. His return to the national T20I squad will likely depend on his ability to adapt his scoring pace and contribute effectively to the team’s overall performance. The squad for the upcoming Bangladesh T20Is has already been announced, with Babar Azam notably absent.
