In a development that puts recent rumors to rest, Pakistan’s high-performance director Mike Hesson has confirmed that both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan remain key players in the team’s white-ball setup. Speaking to journalists earlier this week, Hesson emphasized that the two senior batters are very much part of the ongoing preparations for upcoming international tournaments, including the T20 World Cup.
“There’s no question about their value,” Hesson said. “We’re making decisions based on form, fitness, and performance — and both of them remain right at the center of our white-ball thinking.”
The statement comes at a time when discussions had been heating up over the roles of Babar and Rizwan, particularly in T20 cricket. Critics have pointed to strike rates and tempo, questioning whether the team should consider younger, more aggressive options at the top of the order. But Hesson, known for his measured and analytical approach, dismissed the noise.
“Not every innings is about big hitting. You need players who can absorb pressure, build innings, and finish games. Both Babar and Rizwan have done that consistently,” he explained.
Their form in recent months, while not always spectacular, has remained steady. Babar has crossed 50 in several limited-overs games, while Rizwan has remained a reliable presence, especially in high-pressure chases.
Hesson’s high-performance director role is part of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s wider restructuring plan, as they look to develop consistency in a team regularly seen as erratic. The side has undergone various fluctuations since Babar Azam assumed leadership, serving under different coaches on a regular basis and always debating possible forms of team balance. Amid various nature of upheaval, Babar and Rizwan has provided some form of stability.
Sources close to team management say that both are likely to be in the final squad for the T20 World Cup, with Babar returning as white-ball captain and Rizwan retaining his place as a senior opener. Their experience in ICC tournaments is seen as crucial.
Chairman PCB Mohsin Naqvi has also weighed in on the matter in recent interviews, saying that while selection will remain performance-based, experience cannot be ignored. “We want to build a team that can win consistently. You need a mix of youth and senior players to do that,” he said.
For now, Hesson’s comments are expected to bring clarity not just to the media narrative, but to the dressing room itself. With a busy calendar ahead and World Cup ambitions on the line, Pakistan’s plans are moving forward — and the team’s backbone, for the moment, remains unchanged.
