ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s newly appointed white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, has shed light on the future of seasoned players Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan in the national T20I side.
Babar and Rizwan, who were earlier excluded from the squad for the T20I series against New Zealand to provide international exposure to younger players, have again been left out for the forthcoming series against Bangladesh.
Talking to the media, Hesson addressed their omission, emphasising that future selections will be guided by team roles rather than past performances or established reputations.
“Our plans will be shaped by the roles we want to define and the brand of cricket we wish to play,” Hesson explained.
Shift in policy
“Once we identify our playing style, we’ll establish specific roles within the team and then select players we believe are best suited to fulfil those responsibilities.”
This marks a clear shift in selection policy. Although Babar and Rizwan have long been pillars of Pakistan’s T20I team, their continued exclusion indicates a new strategic direction.
Hesson, who previously coached New Zealand and is known for his system-oriented approach, expressed enthusiasm about his new role.
“I’m truly excited about this opportunity. I believe I can bring meaningful progress to the Pakistan side and help us adopt a modern, successful brand of white-ball cricket — one that is capable of winning and reigniting passion among the fans,” he stated.
It is worth noting that Hesson’s first official assignment in charge will be the T20I series against Bangladesh.
The action begins with the first T20I on Wednesday, 28 May, followed by the second match on Friday, 30 May. The third and final T20I will be held on Sunday, 1 June.
Pakistan Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Shadab Khan (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Wasim Jr, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), and Saim Ayub.
