Mike Hesson, Pakistan’s recently hired white-ball coach, has outlined his plans for the national team’s comeback, some of which include unexpected changes to the positions of its best players. Hesson stated that Babar Azam will continue to be a specialist batter with a greater emphasis on anchoring the innings in T20 cricket, despite rumours that he might take on wicketkeeping responsibilities.
Hesson underlined that Shaheen Afridi, who is making a comeback from injury, will be closely watched to prevent burnout and may be limited in his appearances in bilateral series in order to keep him healthy for World Cups. The Kiwi coach also hinted at a more aggressive batting approach from Babar, moving away from his traditional anchor role to maximize Pakistan’s powerplay potential.
In order to prevent the inconsistencies that beset Pakistan in recent ICC events, the former New Zealand coach suggested that player duties be clearly defined. The goal of Hesson’s plan is to combine youth and experience with tactical surprises to keep spectators on edge as the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches.
