Just when it seemed like the Babar Azam-Rizwan era in T20 cricket was being quietly phased out, Pakistan’s newly appointed head coach Mike Hesson may be flipping the script.
There’s been a lot of chatter lately — some whisperings, some insider scoops — but all signs point in one direction: Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan could soon be back in Pakistan’s T20 setup.
New Coach, Fresh Perspective
Hesson, who’s still getting his feet under the desk in the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has already started making moves.
According to reliable sources, he recently met selector Aqib Javed to align on what the future T20 squad should look like. And surprise, surprise — Babar and Rizwan are very much a part of that picture.
Why the change of heart? Well, Hesson sees them as “match-winners.”
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But here’s the twist: he doesn’t want the old version of Babar Azam and Rizwan. He wants the aggressive, fire-in-the-eyes versions — the ones who can anchor and accelerate.
Word is, Hesson has told both players to work on their strike rates and adapt to the modern, fearless T20 game.
From Dropped to Desired
Not too long ago, both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan were left out of the T20I series against New Zealand. The selectors opted to give younger players some much-needed international exposure.
Rizwan, in particular, saw his T20I captaincy cut short recently. The leadership baton was passed to Salman Ali Agha, raising eyebrows and sparking debates across cricket circles in Pakistan.
But now, with the Asia Cup 2025 and the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, Hesson seems to believe experience and calm heads will be crucial.
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Why Babar-Rizwan Still Matter?
Let’s be real. Babar and Rizwan have been pillars of Pakistan’s T20 side for years. Sure, their approach came under scrutiny — especially around their strike rates — but numbers don’t lie. They’ve delivered time and again when it mattered.
Hesson isn’t asking them to be someone they’re not. He’s just nudging them to evolve with the game. That kind of coaching — where a player’s strengths are respected but their flaws are addressed — could be just what Pakistan needs to find that missing spark in their white-ball game.
All signs suggest that Babar and Rizwan aren’t done yet. With Mike Hesson backing them, and a bit of tactical tweaking, they could very well become the backbone of Pakistan’s T20 plans once again.
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