Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan’s batting techniques may undergo changes under Mike Hesson’s watch: Report

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson reportedly wants Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to return to the T20I team but they will need to change a few things to earn this call-up. read more

Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan have often faced criticism for their “poor” strike rates in T20Is, but the new Pakistan head coach, Mike Hesson , is reportedly planning to bring them back into the team. Former captain Babar has a strike rate of 129.22 in 128 T20Is and 4223 runs, while Rizwan strikes at 125.37 in the shortest format and has amassed 3414 runs so far in 106 matches.

Babar and Rizwan were both missing from Pakistan’s T20I squad on the New Zealand tour earlier in March this year, while the captaincy of the Pakistan team was handed over to Salman Ali Agha. Pakistan lost the T20I series 4-1.

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Babar, Rizwan could soon be back in Pakistan T20I team

Hesson, however, wants the duo back in the team and reportedly held a discussion with selector Aqib Javed at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) headquarters on the same, recently. As per a report in The Tribune, Hesson described Rizwan and Babar as “match-winners” who can play game-changing performances in the right roles.

The report has also claimed that Hesson would work on their batting techniques. “Insiders close to Hesson reveal that the head coach is looking to refine the techniques of both Babar and Rizwan, urging them to adopt a more aggressive approach and improve their strike rates,” the report read.

There’s no confirmation if Babar and Rizwan will be brought back for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. However, it has been reported that Hesson wants them to be part of Pakistan’s T20I side in the long term. Meanwhile, Pakistan are expected to try out a few youngsters as well against Bangladesh.

The five-match T20I series between Pakistan and Bangladesh was expected to start on 25 May in Faisalabad, but due to the delay in completing the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 2025, the series could be pushed to 27 May . The PSL 2025 final is scheduled for 25 May after the league was halted abruptly due to the India-Pakistan conflict.

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