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Pakistan coach Mike Hesson gives final verdict on Babar Azam's T20 World Cup future

Debashis Sarangi

Mike Hesson speaks on Babar Azam's T20 WC participation [Source: AFP]Mike Hesson speaks on Babar Azam's T20 WC participation [Source: AFP]

Pakistan had an outstanding start to the T20I series against Sri Lanka, as they swatted aside the hosts by six wickets in Dambulla. After the Men in Green's convincing victory in the first T20I, head coach Mike Hesson revealed that veteran batter Babar Azam would be slotted back in the Pakistan XI upon his return to the team for the T20 World Cup. 

Notably, Babar Azam isn't playing in the Sri Lanka T20Is as he is committed to the Big Bash League. However, Hesson believes Babar's comeback in the upcoming T20 World Cup edition will further strengthen Pakistan's batting unit, which already comprises a number of power-hitters. 

Mike Hesson explains how Babar Azam can boost Pakistan's batting unit

With Babar Azam featuring in the BBL, Pakistan slotted Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman and Sahibzada Farhan at the top order for the first T20I against Sri Lanka. While Saim and Farhan opened the batting on expected lines, Fakhar, who played as a middle-order batter in the T20I tri-series, was promoted to number three as Babar Azam's replacement. 

Despite having several explosive batters, including Fakhar Zaman, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan and Shadab Khan, Pakistan lack stability in their batting lineup. Their middle-order is still a bit unsettled, and with barely a month left for the T20 World Cup, Hesson thinks Babar Azam can add depth to the Pakistani batting unit. 

In the post-match press conference, Hesson stated that Babar Azam would definitely be reinstated in Pakistan's playing XI going forward. Considering he's technically more solid than his teammates, Hesson expects Babar to ensure flexibility in the squad and emerge as the backbone of Pakistan's batting lineup in the T20 World Cup. 

"Babar will slot back in and strengthen us. He offers a contrast to our batting group. We’ve got plenty of stroke-makers, and Babar provides the glue that holds everything together," Mike Hesson was quoted as saying by Geo Super. 

Babar Azam's sustains BBL batting slump ahead of T20 World Cup

The Big Bash League was a perfect stage for Babar Azam to fine-tune the grey areas in his batting ahead of the T20 World Cup. 

However, the talismanic Pakistani cricketer has had a topsy-turvy run in the tournament, amassing 131 runs across six innings at a modest average of 26.20 and a strike rate of 111.97. Although he has managed two fifties, Babar Azam's abysmal scoring rate has been a concern for the Sydney Sixers. 

Having said that, the 31-year-old is one of Pakistan's key players heading to the T20 World Cup, having slammed the most runs for them in the format. 

Statistically, Babar Azam is Pakistan's most successful T20I batter with 4429 runs under his belt. However, he has a slightly underwhelming record in the T20 World Cup, scoring 549 runs at an average of 36.6 and a strike rate of 111.35. 

So, the upcoming T20 World Cup edition will be a golden opportunity for Babar to regain his mojo and help Pakistan break the jinx after a long 17-year title drought.