Pakistan cricket is currently going through a period of upheaval. The situation is such that prominent players of the T20 International team, like Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi, are out of the team, even though they haven't announced their retirement from this format yet.
Sports News: There's talk of major changes once again in Pakistan cricket. Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi, once considered the backbone of the T20 team, are now out of the T20 International team. The question is whether the return of these veteran players is possible or if their T20 careers are almost over? Now, Pakistan's new head coach, Mike Hesson, has openly expressed his opinion on this.
Did Babar Azam's strike rate become an obstacle in his return?
Coach Mike Hesson has made it clear that if Babar Azam wants to return to the T20I team, he will have to improve his batting strike rate. He said that strike rate is very important in T20 cricket, and this is the reason for the decline in Pakistan's rankings. Babar Azam's T20I strike rate is currently 129.81, which is less than the current openers, Saim Ayub (138.48) and Fakhar Zaman (133.49). This is why he is not getting a place in the team. According to Mike Hesson, the team needs players who can score runs quickly from the powerplay to the death overs.
Questions on Shaheen Afridi as well; needs to sharpen his bowling
Not only Babar, but Hesson has also given clear indications to Shaheen Shah Afridi that a comeback will not be easy. He said, "Shaheen is undoubtedly world-class, but he also needs to improve in some key areas." He did not specify which areas, but mentioned focusing on aspects like fitness, death over economy, and consistency.
The equation of Pakistan cricket has changed
Both Babar and Shaheen had performed brilliantly for Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2021 and T20 World Cup 2022. But since then, the winds of change have been blowing in Pakistan cricket. New faces, fast-paced players, and the team management's strategy have limited the role of the old stars.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) recently announced the team for the Bangladesh T20 series 2025, which does not include the names of Babar and Shaheen. This clearly indicates that the team is now looking towards the future with new players.
Mike Hesson's strategy - performance, not just name, is needed
Mike Hesson, who was previously the coach of the New Zealand cricket team, is known for his tough but fair decisions. He has decided to rebuild Pakistan's T20 team. He believes that the team will be formed not on the basis of name, but on form and strike rate. Through this statement, he has made it clear that even big names like Babar Azam and Shaheen Afridi will have to sit out if they do not perform according to the needs of the team.
