By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Former captain Babar Azam has been recalled to the T20 International squad for the three-match series against South Africa only after fellow batter Fakhar Zaman opted out, white-ball head coach Mike Hesson said on Sunday.
Babar, who has not featured in T20Is since Hesson took charge in June, was selected for the series starting in Rawalpindi on Tuesday after being overlooked for previous assignments against Bangladesh, the West Indies, a tri-nation series and the Asia Cup due to his low strike-rate.
Hesson clarified the decision while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Pakistan’s training session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. “I certainly endorse his selection,” Hesson said of Babar. “We’ve sent him (Fakhar) back to first-class cricket after a conversation with him. He wanted to focus on improving his technique for one-day cricket, so we gave him a bit of a break from T20s. That’s created an opportunity for another top-order player.”
The coach confirmed Babar would bat at number three rather than his preferred opening position, where he had previously excelled for Pakistan before a dip in form led to his exclusion.
Hesson expressed confidence in Azam’s ability to adapt and indicated the batter remained part of Pakistan’s plans for the T20 World Cup scheduled for February-March next year in India and Sri Lanka. “It’s a great chance to have Babar back,” said the coach. “He’s likely to bat at number three, a role I’m confident he’ll perform well in. It also gives our squad some flexibility ahead of the [T20] World Cup.”
Babar’s return coincides with the dropping of wicket-keeper batter Mohammad Haris, who had received consistent support from the team management under Hesson but struggled with form after an initial century against Bangladesh in June. Frequent changes in batting positions contributed to Haris’s decline, and Hesson said the 24-year-old needed to address specific issues. “Haris has had a number of opportunities recently, and he’d be the first to admit he hasn’t made the most of them,” he said. “But he’s still young and developing, so I wouldn’t say his career is over. He needs to work on his decision-making with the bat. Even in domestic T20s, he averages around 17, similar to international cricket, so that’s an area for improvement.”
Haris has been replaced by Usman Khan, a right-hander who also keeps wickets and who last year abandoned a career in the United Arab Emirates to represent Pakistan before being dropped. Hesson highlighted Usman’s strength against spin as a key factor, particularly with the World Cup venues in mind. “We see our wicket-keeper batting more through the middle rather than at the top, especially with spin being such a big factor in Sri Lanka during the World Cup. That’s why Usman has been given this opportunity.”
Pakistan have named a 15-member squad for the T20I series against South Africa and the subsequent tri-nation event, and a 16-member lineup for the ODIs against South Africa and Sri Lanka. Hesson said the South Africa T20I series and tri-nation series would help team management explore options for the T20 World Cup.
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