Lahore, May 16, 2025: Newly appointed Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson is reportedly keen on bringing back star batters Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan into the national T20 setup, as preparations begin for the Asia Cup 2025 and ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
Both senior players were recently sidelined from the T20I squad that played against New Zealand, as selectors opted to test younger talent. However, Hesson views Babar and Rizwan as “match-winners” who still have much to offer, provided they adopt a more aggressive approach and work on improving their strike rates, according to insiders at the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Sources confirm that Hesson held strategic discussions with selector Aqib Javed at PCB headquarters this week. The focus was reportedly on balancing youth and experience, with an eye toward building a competitive and dynamic squad for global tournaments.
While new faces may continue to feature in the upcoming five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, Hesson is expected to reintegrate Babar and Rizwan into long-term plans, particularly once the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 concludes.
Both Babar and Rizwan have faced scrutiny in recent months—not only were they dropped from the T20I squad, but Rizwan was also relieved of his captaincy after a single series. Salman Ali Agha currently leads the side in the shortest format.
Meanwhile, domestic cricket schedules remain in flux amid heightened political tensions between India and Pakistan. The situation recently caused a temporary halt in PSL 10, which is now set to resume on May 17.
This rescheduling has created a clash between the PSL final and the planned T20I series opener against Bangladesh, originally scheduled for May 25. The PCB may now adjust the bilateral series dates to accommodate the revised PSL calendar.
As the cricketing calendar intensifies, all eyes will be on how Mike Hesson navigates squad dynamics and reshapes Pakistan’s T20 strategy around its senior stalwarts.
