“Toh wo khel kyun raha hai?” - Mohammad Hafeez questions Babar Azam’s place in the Pakistan squad

Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has lashed out at the Pakistan head coach, Mike Hesson, for his post-match comments after the game against Namibia and questioned Babar Azam’s spot in the Pakistan squad for the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026.

In the three innings he has played in the campaign, Babar managed to muster only 66 runs with the highest score being a 46-run knock against the USA. Interestingly, he was demoted down the order for the game against Namibia, raising a lot of eyebrows.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson, who attended the post-match press conference after the Namibia clash, revealed that the low strike rate was the key reason behind Babar Azam’s demotion in the batting order.

"I think he's well aware that his strike rate in the powerplay in (T20) World Cups is less than 100. So clearly, that's not a role that we think here we need. We think he's a fine player through the middle, if required, in terms of if we're in a little bit of trouble. Or as we saw against the USA, once he gets himself set, he can increase his strike rate at that point. So, we brought Babar back in for a specific role post the Asia Cup. We wanted some batsmanship through the middle, and he certainly brings that for us," Heson told reporters.

Responding to Hesson’s comments, Hafeez slammed him while questioning Babar’s place in the squad. Unfortunately, Babar’s strike rate in the ongoing campaign is below-par at 115.78 in the three innings he has batted.

"He (Hesson) made a statement on Babar Azam that I didn't understand. He said neither he's a powerplay batter because his strike rate is 100. I read this statement 15 times, but I didn't understand, which is why I am asking you, because you are like an elder brother, maybe you'll understand. He said that Babar can't bat in the first six overs, because his strike-rate is quite low; he gave that stat, nor could he bat after the 10th over. Toh wo khel kyun raha hai?” Hafeez said on the show Game On Hai.

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