2026 T20 World Cup: Hesson Explains How Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi Can Return to Pakistan’s T20 Team
Mike Hesson, the newly appointed white-ball coach for Pakistan, has explained the steps needed for senior players Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi to reclaim their spots in the national T20I side ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup. Both players were significant contributors to Pakistan’s success in reaching the knockout stages of consecutive ICC Men’s T20 World Cups in 2021 and 2022 but were notably absent from Hesson’s initial squad, which defeated Bangladesh 3-0 in a recent home series.
According to Hesson, both Babar and Shaheen remain crucial parts of his long-term strategy as Pakistan prepares for the T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka next year. The duo is currently in Karachi participating in an intensive training camp alongside teammates who will tour Bangladesh later this month for another three-match T20I series in Mirpur.
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Addressing speculation about Babar Azam potentially becoming Pakistan’s wicketkeeper, Hesson dismissed the notion, clarifying that the former captain’s path back into the side lies solely as a specialist opener. However, Babar currently faces competition from Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub, who occupy the two opening positions. Hesson emphasized that while Babar’s strike rate of 129.81 in T20 internationals lags behind Fakhar’s 133.49 and Ayub’s 138.48, enhancing his scoring rate without sacrificing run volume would be essential for his return.
Also See: 2026 T20 World Cup Schedule, Match Dates, Fixtures, Venues | Players List
Hesson stressed the importance of improving overall batting strike rates, acknowledging that Pakistan’s relatively low ranking in T20 cricket is linked to their inability to consistently post competitive totals. He praised Babar’s recent progress, highlighting the batter’s determination to adopt a more aggressive style to help the team bridge the gap with other international sides. Hesson noted that small yet significant improvements from players like Babar could address the issue of regularly falling short by 30 to 40 runs in T20 matches.
Discussing Shaheen Afridi, Hesson described him as a world-class talent but indicated there were specific areas Afridi needed to refine in his white-ball bowling. Without disclosing precise details, Hesson mentioned that Afridi, like other players, had been given clear targets to work on during the training camp. He reiterated the coaching staff’s responsibility to support players during periods of inconsistency, ensuring they return stronger and more effective.
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