LAHORE (Kashmir English): Pakistan former captain and star batter Babar Azam has been told to improve his batting against spin and boost his overall strike rate to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals, coach Mike Hesson said.
The 30-year-old is the national side’s batting mainstay in other formats but has not played a T20I since their last year’s tour of South Africa.
Babar has not been considered for the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup in September as the team management showed faith in rising talent such as Sahibzada Farhan.
“There’s no doubt Babar’s been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate,” Hesson said of the top-order batter who has a modest strike rate of 129 in T20 Internationals.
“Those are things he’s working really hard on. But at the moment the players we have, have done exceptionally well.
“Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three player-of-the-match awards.”
“Play BBL to improve T20 batting”
Babar should use the Big Bash League in Australia to improve his 20-overs batting and stage a comeback, Hesson advised.
“A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s.”
The Green Shirts will begin their Asia Cup Group-A campaign against Oman in Dubai on September 12 before facing arch-rivals India at the same venue two days later.
