LAHORE: Pakistan’s former white-ball captain Babar Azam has been advised to work on his strike rate and ability against spin bowling if he is to be considered for future Twenty20 Internationals, head coach Mike Hesson said on Monday.
While Babar remains central to Pakistan’s Test and ODI plans, the 30-year-old has not played a T20I since the tour of South Africa late last year. He was also excluded from the squad for next month’s Asia Cup, where selectors preferred emerging players such as Sahibzada Farhan.
“There’s no doubt Babar has been asked to improve in some areas, particularly in taking on spin and improving his strike rate,” Hesson said. “He’s working hard on those aspects, but right now the players we’ve selected have been performing exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan, for instance, has played six games and already won three player-of-the-match awards.”
Babar currently averages a strike rate of 129 in T20Is, a figure considered modest in modern short-format cricket.
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Hesson suggested that Babar could use the upcoming Big Bash League in Australia as a platform to refine his T20 skills and push for a return. “A player like Babar has the chance to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas. He’s far too good a player to be overlooked,” he said.
Pakistan will open their Asia Cup campaign in Group A against Oman in Dubai on September 12 before facing arch-rivals India two days later at the same venue.