Will Babar Azam take up the wicketkeeping role in T20Is? Mike Hesson opens up

Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson broke the silence on rumours suggesting he advised Babar Azam to take up wicketkeeping duties to regain his spot in the Pakistan T20I team. 

Notably, Babar has been left out of the Pakistan squad in the shortest format of the game on the past few tours, and he would miss the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, which is scheduled to take place later this month.

According to various reports surrounding the Pakistan media, Hesson recommended Babar to keep wickets. However, a lot of former Pakistan cricketers came out hard on the head coach for his decision.

“They are being very unfair with Babar, (Mohammad) Rizwan and Shaheen (Afridi) but I can assure you these three will be back soon,” Basit said.

However, Mike Hesson has finally clarified, stating that there is no such conversation between him and Babar, adding that if he comes back to the squad in T20Is, he would come in as an opening batter.

“No discussion took place with Babar where I suggested he also keep wickets. He has never kept wickets in his entire career and you suggest he keeps wickets. This is not the way to treat a former captain and senior,” Hesson told the reporters.

“I have also not told the players that if they want to keep their places in the team they have to bat at strike rates of over 150. We are working on some things in this direction,” he added.

“We are looking at players who are ready to float in the batting order and perform multiple roles but that does not mean there will be no spot for specialist players,” he stated.

Pakistan will take on Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series, starting on July 20, with all matches scheduled to take place at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur.

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