Pakistan coach Mike Hesson breaks silence on reports of asking Babar Azam to keep wickets for T20I comeback

India.com

11-07-2025

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson ended all speculations after reports surfaced of Babar Azam being asked to do wicketkeeping.
New Delhi: Babar Azam remains unselected in Pakistan T20I team, and the right-handed batter will also miss the series against Bangladesh. Since he was dropped, it was reported that white-ball coach Mike Hesson has suggested to the ex-Pakistan captain the possibility of resuming wicket keeping duties as a means of getting his place back in the T20I team.
But Mike Hesson has already silenced all rumours and clarified that he did not recommend Babar Azam to become a wicketkeeper. These reports sparked off criticism among various former cricketers with Rashid Latif, Basit Ali, Moin Khan and Sikander Bakht openly criticizing the reported proposal.
Hesson gave a categorical answer and strongly maintained that he did not have such a dialogue with the 30-year-old. He also explained that should Babar Azam be called back into the T20I environment, he would re-enter the side as a top-order batsman the right-hander, in particular as an opener.
'No discussion took place with Babar where I suggested he also keep wickets. He has never kept wickets in his entire career, and you suggest he keep wickets. This is not the way to treat a former captain and senior,' Hesson told reporters.
Rumours circulating that Pakistan cricket head coach Mike Hesson had told players they could be dropped because they had a strike rate below 150 were denied by him also. He made it clear that nothing of this sort has been discussed with the team.
'I have also not told the players that if they want to keep their places in the team, they have to bat at strike rates of over 150. We are working on some things in this direction,' Hesson said.
Mike Hesson said that he is also working closely with the selection committee on finding players who can play several match roles in the T20I set-up.
'We are looking at players who are ready to float in the batting order and perform multiple roles, but that does not mean there will be no spot for specialist players,' Hesson said.
The T20I series will begin on July 20. All the games are scheduled to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.
Pakistan squad: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Sufyan Moqim.