Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been urged to sharpen his batting against spin and raise his strike rate in order to reclaim a spot in Twenty20 Internationals, head coach Mike Hesson revealed.
Despite being Pakistan’s most reliable batter in Tests and ODIs, Babar has not featured in a T20 International since the team’s tour of South Africa late last year. The 30-year-old was also left out of the squad for next month’s Asia Cup, with selectors backing in-form talents such as Sahibzada Farhan.
“There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate,” Hesson said, noting Babar’s career T20I strike rate of 129. “Those are things he’s working really hard on. But at the moment, the players we have have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three player-of-the-match awards.”
Hesson suggested that Babar could use the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia as an opportunity to strengthen his T20 skills and mount a comeback. “A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas. He’s too good a player not to consider,” he added.
Pakistan will open their Asia Cup Group A campaign against Oman in Dubai on September 12, before a highly anticipated clash with India at the same venue on September 14.
