Hafeez Criticises Mike Hesson’s Statement on Babar Azam

Babar_Azam
Babar_Azam (PC: ICC/X)

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has criticised head coach Mike Hesson for his recent remarks about Babar Azam’s role in the team.

Ahead of Pakistan’s Super Eight match against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Hesson addressed the media and clarified Babar’s batting position. The Pakistan white-ball coach said that Babar is not opening the batting due to his low strike rate.

Taking a jibe at the remarks, Hafeez said on the show Game On Hai:

“He made a statement about Babar Azam that I didn’t understand. He said he’s not a powerplay batter because his strike rate is 100… I read this statement 15 times, but I still didn’t understand it, which is why I am asking you, as you are like an elder brother, maybe you’ll understand. He said that Babar can’t bat in the first six overs because his strike rate is quite low; he gave that stat, nor can he bat after the 10th over. Toh woh khel kyun raha hai? (Why is he playing?)”

Hesson told reporters in Colombo on the eve of Pakistan’s match against New Zealand: “I think he’s well aware that his strike rate in the powerplay in (T20) World Cups is less than 100. So clearly, that’s not a role that we think we need here. We think he’s a fine player through the middle, if required, particularly if we’re in a little bit of trouble. Or, as we saw against the USA, once he gets himself set, he can increase his strike rate at that point. So, we brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup. We wanted some batsmanship through the middle, and he certainly brings that for us.”

Babar began the World Cup with a very slow innings of 15 runs off 18 balls against the Netherlands, in which Pakistan clinched victory in the final over. In the second match against the USA, the 31-year-old scored 46 off 32 balls. He failed against arch-rivals India, scoring just five runs. In the last match against Namibia, he did not bat.

So far in 2026, he has played eight matches and, in six innings, has scored 142 runs at an average of 28.40 and a strike rate of 120.33, including a solitary half-century.

Also read- T20 World Cup 2026: “He can be Player of the Tournament” – Ponting backs Abhishek Sharma

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The post Hafeez Criticises Mike Hesson’s Statement on Babar Azam appeared first on Sports News Portal | Revsportz.



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