Newly appointed Pakistan men’s cricket head coach Mike Hesson is reportedly advocating for the return of Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to the national T20 setup, reported 24NewsHDTV channel.
Reports suggested that the head coach considers both batters key to the team’s preparations for the 2025 ACC Asia Cup and the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.
Both senior players were previously dropped for the T20I series against New Zealand earlier this year, a move by the selection committee aimed at giving younger players international exposure.
Rizwan, Pakistan's wicketkeeper-batter, was also stripped of T20I captaincy after leading the side for just one series, making way for Salman Ali Agha to take on leadership responsibilities in the shortest format.
However, with major ICC tournaments on the horizon, Hesson appears to favor a blend of experience and youth.
While emerging talents are expected to feature prominently in the upcoming five-match home T20I series against Bangladesh, Hesson is keen to reintegrate the senior duo in the team’s long-term planning.
Reliable sources confirmed that Hesson recently met with national selector Aqib Javed at the PCB headquarters to discuss the way forward.
According to insiders, the former New Zealand coach emphasized the need to "refine" the techniques of Babar and Rizwan and encourage a more aggressive approach with the bat, particularly focusing on improving their strike rates, a key metric in modern T20 cricket.
In a private discussion, Hesson reportedly referred to the pair as “match-winners,” stating that with clearly defined roles and strategic guidance, both players can still play pivotal roles in match-turning situations.
Pakistan’s next T20I engagement is a five-match home series against Bangladesh, scheduled to take place from May 25 in Faisalabad and Lahore.
However, a scheduling conflict has emerged due to the resumption of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Season 10.
The league had been temporarily suspended due to political tensions between India and Pakistan, which indirectly affected domestic cricket operations.
The final of PSL 10 is now slated for May 25—the same day originally designated for the series opener against Bangladesh.
The clash in dates may force PCB to revise the bilateral series schedule, though no official announcement has been made so far.