Dropped from Asia Cup squad, PAK star Babar Azam asked to sharpen strike rate and spin game

Babar Azam told to improve strike-rate getting dropped from Pakistan's Asia Cup squad. (AFP Image)

Coach Mike Hesson stated that Babar Azam, the former captain of Pakistan, has been instructed to increase his overall strike rate and his ability to bat against spin in order to be considered for Twenty20 Internationals.

Although he is Pakistan's batting mainstay in other formats, Babar hasn't participated in a T20 International since the team's late-year tour of South Africa.

As the team management had faith in up-and-coming players like Sahibzada Farhan, the 30-year-old was unable to get a spot in Pakistan's squad for the Asia Cup next month.

"There's no doubt Babar's been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate," Hesson said of the top-order batter who has a modest strike rate of 129 in T20 Internationals.

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"Those are things he's working really hard on. But at the moment the players we have, have done exceptionally well. Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three player-of-the-match awards," Hesson added.

Babar last featured in a T20I in December 2024. In the 2025 PSL, he accumulated 288 runs from ten innings for Peshawar Zalmi, registering scores of 56*, 53* and 94, though his overall strike rate stood at 128.57. More recently, he played in the ODI series against West Indies, where he managed scores of 47, 0 and 9.

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According to Hesson, Babar should use the Big Bash League in Australia to hone his 20-overs batting and pull off a comeback.

"A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he's improving in those areas in T20s. He's too good a player not to consider," he said.

On September 12, Pakistan will play their first Asia Cup Group A match against Oman in Dubai. Two days later, they will play their bitter rivals, India, at the same venue.