Metro53 - Dubai (Web Desk) — Pakistan Cricket Team head coach Mike Hesson has clearly indicated that Babar Azam will not be given another opportunity in the top-order batting position.
Speaking at a press conference ahead of the Super Eight match against New Zealand, Mike Hesson stated that Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the powerplay during T20 World Cups has remained below 100, which does not align with the team’s current strategy.
The head coach said that Babar can be useful in the middle order when required, particularly in situations where the team is under pressure and there is a need to stabilize the innings.
He added that after the Asia Cup, Babar was assigned a specific role upon his return to the team and has mostly been batting at number four since then.
Mike Hesson further said that in the match against the USA, Babar increased his strike rate after getting set, which is exactly the role the team expects from him.
According to the head coach, the team has players who can perform the finisher’s role more effectively, therefore Babar will need to further adapt his game and role.
As a result, Babar’s role now appears to be shifting from a central figure to that of a stabilizer or backup option.
According to statistics, Babar, who is playing his fifth T20 World Cup, has scored 187 runs off 217 balls during the powerplay, resulting in a strike rate of 86.17.
Even at his current number four position, his strike rate remains close to 120, which is not considered highly impressive by the standards of fast-paced T20 cricket.
