By Asif Naveed
RAWALPINDI; ; Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson on Sunday confirmed that former captain Babar Azam will return to the national T20 side as a top-order batsman, taking the number three position in the upcoming series against South Africa.
Babar last appeared for Pakistan in the T20 format during the December 2024 series against South Africa in Centurion. Although absent from T20s since then, he has remained a key figure in both the ODI and Test squads.
Addressing reporters in Rawalpindi, Hesson said he was confident about Babar’s return and performance in the shorter format. “I fully support his selection. With Fakhar Zaman moving to first-class cricket, it opened the door for another top-order batter — and it’s a perfect opportunity to bring Babar back,” he said. “He’ll likely bat at three, a role I’m very confident he can excel in.”
Explaining squad changes, the coach said wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Haris was dropped after a series of underwhelming performances. “Haris is young and has potential, but he needs more improvement,” Hesson said, adding that Usman Khan was picked for his strong batting ability, particularly against spin bowlers.
Pakistan has announced a 15-member squad for the T20I series against South Africa and the following tri-nation tournament, while a 16-member team will play in the ODI series against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Hesson said both series would allow the management to assess different combinations ahead of the T20 World Cup.
Reflecting on Pakistan’s loss to India in the Asia Cup 2025 final, the coach admitted it was “disappointing,” but expressed optimism about the team’s preparations going forward.
He also praised young spinner Usman Tariq, calling him a “promising spin talent,” and confirmed that Sufiyan Moqim had been released to participate in domestic matches.
