“We got Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup” - Mike Hesson reveals why Babar Azam wasn’t sent out to bat vs Namibia

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has opened up on the team management’s decision not to send Babar Azam at the designated No.4 batting position in the team’s fourth and last group stage encounter against Namibia.

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Speaking in the pre-match press conference ahead of the New Zealand Super 8 clash, Hesson stated that Babar’s strike rate is pretty low in the powerplay overs. Moreover, he added that he couldn’t come out after the 12th over, as better batters were sitting in the dugout to come and explode right from their first ball.

"I think Babar is well aware that his strike rate in the power play in the World Cup is less than 100 and that's clearly not the role we think we need," Hesson said in the pre-match press conference ahead of the New Zealand game.

"The other day, we got to the 12th-over mark and at that point Babar Azam is not the best person to come in. We've got plenty of other options who can come in and perform that [finishing] role towards the end. And Babar's actually the first to acknowledge that, you know he knows that he's got a certain set of skills that the team require and there are certain times where other players can perform a role more efficiently," Hesson added.

"It's what the team requires and Babar is well aware of that. He's well aware that his strike rate in the PowerPlay in World Cups is less than 100, so clearly that's not a role we need. We think he's a fine player through the middle. 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. We got 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," Hesson concluded.

Delving into the details of the game between Pakistan and Namibia, Sahibzada Farhan’s hundred powered Pakistan to 199/3 and they comfortably secured a 102-run win to qualify for the Super Eight round.

In the three innings he has batted in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, Babar Azam has mustered only 66 runs with the highest score of 46 runs against the USA.

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