He said:
“Mike, we are failing to understand why Babar Azam is batting at number 4. When we look at Babar Azam’s history, he has opened in LPL, Big Bash, while captaining Pakistan, and also in PSL. Why put him at number 4? This seems like a poor decision for Babar Azam in T20s.”
Hesson responded calmly to this question.
Mike Hesson Explains the Strategy
Hesson emphasized that the team’s needs should come first, rather than past positions influencing choices. Babar’s strike rate during powerplays at World Cups has not reached 100.
Hesson said:
“It’s about what the team needs, and Babar knows that. His strike rate in World Cup powerplays is below 100 in T20s, so that’s not the role we need right now. We see him as a strong player in the middle overs, especially if we’re facing challenges or, as we saw against the USA, once he settles in, he can up his strike rate. We brought Babar back for a specific role after the Asia Cup.”
Hesson clarified that this decision is not against Babar but part of a larger strategy.
Babar’s Role in the Middle Overs
The match’s middle overs require stability, which the head coach aims to achieve. Babar is seen as a player who offers calm and control under pressure.
He added:
“We wanted skilled batting in the middle, and he brings that. He showed it in many games over the last ten. The other day, reaching the 12th over, Babar wasn’t the best choice to come in.”
He concluded:
“We have many players who can fill that role better at the end. Babar acknowledges this. He understands his specific skill set helps the team, and sometimes other players can perform certain roles more effectively.”
Pakistan’s focus now is to move from the Super 8 phase to the semifinals. Upcoming matches will show if Babar can fulfill this role. The coach believes this approach is what the team needs most at the moment.
