Pakistan’s former captain Babar Azam has been instructed to enhance his batting performance against spin bowling and increase his strike rate if he hopes to return to the national T20I squad, head coach Mike Hesson revealed. The 30-year-old, a mainstay in other formats, has not played a T20 International since Pakistan’s tour of South Africa late last year. His absence from the upcoming Asia Cup squad highlights the team management’s shift toward younger talents like Sahibzada Farhan.
Hesson acknowledged Babar’s contributions but emphasized the need for improvement in specific areas. “Babar’s been asked to work on taking on spin and boosting his strike rate,” Hesson said. The right-handed batter currently holds a T20I strike rate of 129, which the coaching staff believes needs enhancement. Meanwhile, Farhan’s impressive performances—including three Player-of-the-Match awards in six games—have solidified his place in the squad.
To stage a comeback, Hesson suggested that Babar should use the Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia as a platform to refine his T20 skills. “A player like Babar has the opportunity to prove his growth in these areas,” Hesson stated. “He’s too talented to ignore, but he must show progress.” The BBL could serve as a crucial proving ground for Babar before Pakistan’s next major T20 assignments.
Pakistan will kick off their Asia Cup campaign in Group A, facing Oman on September 12 in Dubai before taking on arch-rivals India on September 14. With the squad prioritizing dynamic performances, Babar’s path back into the T20 setup depends on his ability to adapt and deliver under pressure.
