Mike Hesson: “They both are very fine players. Both those players will be involved in the white-ball plans”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Pakistan limited overs head coach Mike Hesson has confirmed that batsmen Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan “will be involved in the white-ball plans” going forward.
Questions have been raised about the duo’s future, especially in T20I cricket, where they have been overlooked by the selectors for Pakistan’s last few assignments.
Rizwan currently captains the ODI team and has been part of the Test side as well.
Azam has also been included in both squads on a regular basis.
With Hesson confirming that both players have a future in limited overs cricket, it could mean that they may get another chance to resurrect their T20I careers.
“They both are very fine players. Both those players will be involved in the white-ball plans,” Hesson was quoted as saying by ARY News.
Azam and Rizwan were not selected for Pakistan’s recent T20I assignments, which included a three-match series against Bangladesh in Lahore, a T20I tour of Bangladesh, a T20I series against the West Indies, and a T20I tri-series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan.
They also failed to make the cut for the 2025 Asia Cup, where the men in green lost to India in the final.
Azam and Rizwan are poised to return for the upcoming Test series against South Africa, having been named in the squad.
Pakistan will host South Africa for two Tests, three T20Is, and three ODIs, which will take place from October 12 to November 8.
Pakistan squad for South Africa Test series: Shan Masood (captain), Aamer Jamal, Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Asif Afridi, Babar Azam, Faisal Akram, Hasan Ali, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Khurram Shahzad, Mohammad Rizwan (wicketkeeper), Noman Ali, Rohail Nazir (wicketkeeper), Sajid Khan, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel and Shaheen Shah Afridi