Mike Hesson reveals Babar Azam’s new batting position for T20s

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has confirmed that captain Babar Azam will bat at the No. 3 position in the upcoming T20 series, expressing confidence in his strong return to form.

Speaking at a press conference at the Pindi Cricket Stadium, Hesson said Babar had been included in the T20 squad and the team management was hopeful of a solid comeback from him. “Babar Azam will bat at number three, and I am confident he will make a strong return,” he remarked.

Hesson noted that the management would explore different options as part of preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup. Discussing player selections, he said wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris had been given several opportunities but was unable to capitalise on them. “Haris is still young and needs to improve further,” he said.

Commenting on other players, Hesson said Usman Khan had been included in the T20 squad due to his strong performance against spin bowlers. He also praised spinner Usman Tariq, describing him as a “talented spin option” for the future.

Reflecting on Pakistan’s loss in the Asia Cup final, Hesson said the defeat was disappointing as it was “a big day” for the team. He stressed the need for improvement across various departments in the T20 format and advised players outside the national setup to focus on domestic cricket for further development.