Batting star Babar Azam was pushed down the batting order during Pakistan’s final group-stage match of the T20 World Cup against Namibia due to concerns over his scoring rate, head coach Mike Hesson said on Friday.
Babar, the highest run-scorer in T20 internationals with 4,571 runs, did not bat in his usual position in the must-win clash as Pakistan posted 199-3 and defeated Namibia by 102 runs to qualify for the Super Eights.
Speaking to reporters after Pakistan’s rain-affected practice session, Hesson said Babar was aware that his powerplay strike rate in the tournament had been below 100, which did not align with the team’s requirements for that role.
He noted that the team management had also left Babar out during last year’s Asia Cup for similar reasons but later reinstated him with a clearly defined role. Hesson added that Babar understood his strengths and acknowledged that other players could at times execute certain roles more effectively.
Pakistan, the 2009 champions, are set to face New Zealand in Colombo on Saturday in their first Super Eights fixture. Hesson cautioned that New Zealand’s recent experience in subcontinent conditions makes them a formidable opponent.
The coach also defended the decision to drop pace spearhead Shaheen Shah Afridi after he conceded 101 runs across three matches, including 31 runs in two overs against India. Hesson said Salman Mirza replaced Afridi and delivered an impressive performance, adding that Mirza had been unlucky not to feature earlier in the tournament.