Pakistan head coach adds pressure on Babar Azam ahead of T20I comeback: ‘It’s a great opportunity’
Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson has announced that Babar Azam will return to T20I cricket batting at number three position in the upcoming three-match series against South Africa. This marks Babar’s first appearance in the format since December 2024.The announcement came during a media interaction at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium during Pakistan’s training session. The decision follows opener Fakhar Zaman‘s temporary break from the T20 format to focus on domestic cricket.“I certainly endorse his selection, with Fakhar Zaman sent to first-class cricket. We’ve had a conversation with him, and he wants to come back into the One-Day scene, so we’ve given him a bit of a break from T20Is to get his technique back to where he wants to be, and I’ve been really supportive of that,” Hesson shared with GeoSuper.“That created an opportunity for another top-order player, and it’s a great opportunity to get Babar back into the squad. He’s likely to bat at three, so it’s a role that I’m very confident he’ll be able to do well in,” Hesson added.Babar’s last T20I match was against South Africa. The 31-year-old cricketer has appeared in 128 T20Is, accumulating 4223 runs with an impressive average of 39.84 and a strike rate of 129.23.His T20I career includes 36 half-centuries and three centuries. His highest score of 122 was achieved against South Africa in Centurion in 2021.Against South Africa specifically, Babar maintains an average of 34.38 from 13 innings with a strike rate of 141.45. This strike rate stands as his best against any Test-playing nation he has faced in T20Is.
