Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, has confirmed that former skipper Babar Azam will bat at No. 3 in the impending three-match T20I series against South Africa, marking his return to the shortest format for the first time since December 2024.
Speaking to the media at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, on the sidelines of Pakistan’s training session, Hesson explained some of the selection decisions and how Babar’s comeback came about. With opener Fakhar Zaman given a break from the T20 format
to work on his technique in domestic cricket, it opened the door for Babar's return.
“I certainly endorse his selection, with Fakhar Zaman sent to first-class cricket. We’ve had a conversation with him, and he wants to come back into the One-Day scene, so we’ve given him a bit of a break from T20Is to get his technique back to where he wants to be, and I’ve been really supportive of that,” Hesson was quoted as saying by GeoSuper.
Hesson said that Babar's experience makes him an ideal fit for the crucial No. 3 position in the batting order. He also expressed his confidence in Babar doing well in the role.
“That created an opportunity for another top-order player, and it’s a great opportunity to get Babar back into the squad. He’s likely to bat at three, so it’s a role that I’m very confident he’ll be able to do well in,” Hesson said.
Incidentally, Babar's last T20I appearance was also against South Africa. The 31-year-old has played 128 T20Is so far, scoring 4223 runs at an average of 39.84 and a strike rate of 129.23. He has 36 fifties and three centuries in the format, including a highest score of 122 against the Proteas in 2021 in Centurion. Babar averages 34.38 from 13 innings against South Africa in T20Is at a strike rate of 141.45. This is his best strike rate among the Test-playing nations he has faced.
