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Pakistan’s cricket coach, Mike Hesson, has fully backed the return of former captain Babar Azam to the T20 International squad for the upcoming three-match series against South Africa, which begins in Rawalpindi on Tuesday.
Azam, 31, is making his first T20 appearance since December of last year, having previously been omitted over concerns regarding his strike rate in the format.
Hesson defended the recall on Sunday, stating that the timing was opportune given that Fakhar Zaman has been rested. The coach expressed confidence that Azam will perform well.
Hesson views the batsman’s return as a tactical preparation for the T20 World Cup scheduled for next year. He anticipates Azam will bat at the crucial number three position, which will offer the team strategic flexibility.
Azam is currently close to breaking a major record, needing only nine more runs to surpass India’s Rohit Sharma as the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals.
Despite the fact that South Africa will be missing several key players, including batsman David Miller and fast bowler Gerald Coetzee (both out due to injury), and having rested Aiden Markram and Kagiso Rabada, Hesson cautioned that the Donovan Ferreira-led squad remains “very dangerous.”
