Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson on Sunday confirmed that Babar Azam would bat at three in the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.
The former captain last played for the national side in T20Is against South Africa at Centurion in December 2024. However, he remains an integral part of the ODI and Test squads.
Speaking at a media briefing in Rawalpindi, Hesson expressed hope that Azam would make a successful return to the shorter format after his selection.
“I certainly support his selection sending Fakhar Zaman to first-class cricket,” he said.
“And that created an opportunity for another top-class player, and it’s a great opportunity to get Babar back into the side. He’ll probably bat at three, so it’s a role I’m confident he can fill well,” he added.
The Pakistan coach said wicketkeeper-batsman Mohammad Haris was left out of the squad due to his continuous failures despite being given repeated opportunities.
“Haris is young, he needs improvement,” he said, adding that Usman Khan was included in the T20I squad for his batting prowess against spin.
Pakistan has named a 15-member squad for the T20I series against South Africa and the subsequent three-nation event, and a 16-member line-up for the ODIs against South Africa and Sri Lanka.
Hesson said the South Africa T20I series and the tri-nation series would help the team management explore options for the T20 World Cup.
The Pakistan coach shared his thoughts on the Green Shirts’ loss to India in the 2025 Asia Cup final and described the defeat as “disappointing”.
He also praised Usman Tariq as a “spin talent” while confirming that Sufiyan Moqim has been released to play domestic cricket.
