Mike Hesson shares plan for Babar, Rizwan in T20Is

Pakistan’s newly appointed head coach, Mike Hesson, is reportedly in favour of bringing back Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to the national T20I squad.

According to ASports, Hesson views both batters as crucial to Pakistan’s plans for the 2025 Asia Cup and the 2026 T20 World Cup. This comes after earlier speculation that the two players might be dropped from the T20I setup, raising doubts about their future in the shortest format.

Babar and Rizwan were notably absent from the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year, with selectors opting to test younger talent. Rizwan, who briefly captained the T20I side in two series, was also replaced, with Agha Salman appointed the new skipper.

However, Hesson is now advocating for experience to return with a refreshed approach. According to reports, he recently met with selector Aqib Javed at the PCB headquarters to discuss team composition and the role senior players could play in upcoming tournaments.

While Hesson still considers both Babar and Rizwan to be “match-winners,” he has also expressed his expectation from them to adapt a modern T20 approach, including boosting their strike rates and playing with more intent and aggression.

The upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place this month in Faisalabad and Lahore, is expected to feature new faces. However, long-term planning involves a mix of seasoned players and new talent.

Earlier, reports indicated that the PCB was prepared to move on without Babar and Rizwan, with both players likely to be dropped from the T20I setup altogether.