Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been told to enhance his batting against spin and boost his overall strike rate to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals, according to coach Mike Hesson.
Babar is a key player for Pakistan in other formats but has not played a T20 International since the tour of South Africa late last year. The 30-year-old was not included in the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup next month, as the team management has placed its faith in emerging players like Sahibzada Farhan.
“There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate,” Hesson said of the top-order batter, who has a modest strike rate of 129 in T20 Internationals.
He added, “Those are things he’s working really hard on. But at the moment the players we have have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three player-of-the-match awards.”
Hesson suggested that Babar should use the Big Bash League in Australia to improve his T20 batting and make a comeback. “A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider,” he said.
Pakistan will begin its Asia Cup Group A campaign against Oman in Dubai on September 12, followed by a match against arch-rivals India at the same venue two days later.
