Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, has stepped forward to clear the air on the rumours that Babar Azam might return to the T20I team as a wicket-keeper.
Over the past week, social media went into overdrive with claims that Hesson had suggested Babar Azam add wicket-keeping to his skill set in order to reclaim a regular place in Pakistan’s T20I side.
The story quickly snowballed, sparking memes, debates and concerns about the direction of the team.
But on the sidelines of Pakistan’s training camp, Mike Hesson put that speculation to rest.
“Babar Azam is not being considered as a wicket-keeping option. Not sure where that came from,” Hesson clarified to the media.
“There’s been a lot of chatter around this, but Babar is working to secure his place in the side as an opening batter.”
So, What Is Babar’s Role Now?
While Babar Azam won’t be donning the gloves, his spot at the top of the order isn’t guaranteed either. The competition is heating up.
“If Babar could secure his place in the team, he would play alongside Fakhar Zaman or Saim Ayub,” Hesson explained. “So he’s competing for that spot.”
Babar was notably absent from Pakistan’s recent T20I series against Bangladesh and hasn’t been named in the squad for the return tour later this month either.
However, he has been called up for the pre-series training camp, along with other senior players like Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah and Mohammad Wasim Jr.
Strike Rate Is the Real Battle
Perhaps the most telling part of Hesson’s press conference was his frank assessment of Pakistan’s T20 batting approach.
“There’s a good reason why our ranking in T20 cricket is as low as it is — our strike rates are not high enough,” he admitted.
Hesson made it clear that the modern T20 game demands a more aggressive approach and that Pakistan has lagged behind in adapting to that reality.
“It’s not just about going from a strike rate of 125 to 150 — it’s about increasing what you can offer. We’re often 30-40 runs short, and we need to fix that.”
He emphasised that Babar, like many others in the team, has the potential to adapt and evolve — and that work is already underway.
“In the last month or so, he’s made some really good changes. I’m here to help him, and everyone else, make those improvements.”
What Next for Babar Azam?
Babar’s absence from the T20I squad has been viewed as a signal, the selectors want a new approach, a new energy, and perhaps, new leadership. But Hesson’s comments suggest the door isn’t closed.
If Babar can modernise his T20 game, especially in terms of strike rate and adaptability, he still has a shot at reclaiming his spot.
However, one thing is confirmed now that Babar Azam isn’t about to turn into a wicketkeeper. That rumour has been binned.
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