Babar Azam Told to Tackle Spin for Comeback

News Desk

Islamabad: Former Pakistan captain Babar Azam has been advised to sharpen his batting against spin and improve his overall strike rate if he wants to regain a place in the national Twenty20 International side, head coach Mike Hesson said.

Babar, considered Pakistan’s batting mainstay in Tests and ODIs, has not featured in a T20 International since the team’s tour of South Africa late last year. He was also left out of the squad for next month’s Asia Cup, where selectors preferred in-form players 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 career T20I strike rate of 129.

Read More: https://thepenpk.com/atherton-slams-icc-over-pakistan-india-scheduling/

“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.”

The coach suggested that Babar should use the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) in Australia to refine his T20 batting and mount a comeback.

“A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he’s improving in those areas in T20s. He’s too good a player not to consider,” Hesson added.

Pakistan will open their Asia Cup Group A campaign against Oman in Dubai on September 12, before taking on arch-rivals India at the same venue on September 14.