Babar Azam recorded the lowest strike rate in T20 World Cup history during Pakistan’s Super 8 match against England on Wednesday. Batting at No. 4, he scored just 25 runs off 24 balls, with two fours. His current strike rate for the tournament is 111.5, a significant low.
Despite this, former England cricketer Michael Vaughan praised Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, for managing Babar’s position effectively throughout the tournament. Vaughan noted that Babar’s spot in the team is secure due to political reasons and suggested that Hesson views him as a backup option.
In a discussion on Cricbuzz, Vaughan said, “I admire overseas coaches who take on coaching roles in Pakistan, as there are many challenges involved.”
“Mike Hesson has handled Babar Azam’s situation very well. Babar must play, and Hesson is using him as a safety net. If two wickets fall, he’s ready to step in and stabilize the innings,” he added.
Vaughan believes that Babar Azam suits the Sri Lankan pitches and expects him to perform well.
“He’s the right player for Sri Lankan pitches, where scores are typically between 150 and 180. Babar fits well in that range, and I think he’ll help Pakistan achieve a total of around 160-170,” he mentioned.
“However, on pitches that support scores of 200 or 210, I don’t think Babar can get you there. I just don’t see him as that kind of player anymore.”
“I appreciate how Mike Hesson has managed this situation. But for a pitch like the one in Pallekele, I would definitely want Babar Azam in my team. He provides stability against spinners. If he scores at a rate of 125-130, that’s completely acceptable. You’ll need some quick runs from others, but I’d want that dependable player in the middle overs. I think they’ve dealt with it well,” he explained.
“Personally, I wouldn’t want to be an overseas coach in Pakistan. I’ve discussed the challenges with Jason Gillespie during my visits there, and it’s a difficult situation. However, I believe Hesson, the team, and the management have done an excellent job. They’ve executed everything perfectly,” he concluded.
