For the first time since December 2024, former captain Babar Azam will bat at No. 3 in the upcoming three-match T20I series against South Africa, according to Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s white-ball head coach.
Hesson discussed some of the selection choices and the circumstances surrounding Babar Azam return with the media at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium during Pakistan’s training session. It made Babar Azam return possible by allowing opener Fakhar Zaman to take a sabbatical from the T20 format in order to improve his skills in domestic cricket.
“I wholeheartedly support his selection, sending Fakhar Zaman to play first-class cricket.” Hesson was reported by GeoSuper as stating, “We’ve talked 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!”
Babar Azam expertise makes him a perfect fit for the vital No. 3 spot in the batting order, according to Hesson. He said that he was confident Babar will succeed in the position.
It’s a fantastic chance to bring Babar Azam back into the team and gave another top-order player a chance. I’m really sure he can do well in that situation because he’s probably going to bat at three,” Hesson stated.
By the way, Babar Azam made his final appearance in Twenty20 Internationals against South Africa.
With a strike rate of 129.23 and an average of 39.84, the 31-year-old has amassed 4223 runs in 128 Twenty20 Internationals thus far. With a peak score of 122 against the Proteas in Centurion in 2021, he has amassed 36 fifties and three hundreds in the format. In T20Is, Babar averages 34.38 at a strike rate of 141.45 from 13 innings against South Africa. He has faced Test-playing countries, and this is his best strike rate.
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