Babar Azam ordered to become Pakistan's MS Dhoni to regain T20I spot

Pakistan will begin their T20 series against Bangladesh on the 20th of July, and the selections have caused a huge stir among fans as well as cricket pundits. New white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has dropped the likes of Mohammed Rizwan, Babar Azam, and Shaheen Shah Afridi from the T20I squad.

Considerably, as suggested by reports from sources of Pakistani media close to the Pakistan national side, Mike Hesson is looking to feature only multi-skilled players for the shortest format of the game, as he suggests the idea of a specialist batter seems outdated in the T20 format.

Similar sources revealed that Mike Hesson, during the former's introductory meeting with the Pakistan players, shocked the former Pakistan skipper with a shocking question of 'whether he could keep wickets in T20Is?'

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Babar Azam was left shocked as he replied that he has not kept wickets in his entire career. The 30-year-old has played 128 T20 international matches for Pakistan and has scored 4223 runs in the format, only behind Rohit Sharma, as the second-highest run-getter in T20Is. Reportedly, Mike Hesson has asked Babar Azam to take up wicketkeeping if he wants to regain his place in the T20I setup.

Pakistan announce squad for Bangladesh T20Is with Babar Azam excluded

Pakistan have faced serious criticism over their form in any format of the game in recent years; their weak performances in the ICC World Cup 2023 and ICC Champions Trophy 2025 also infuriated the former greats.

However, the most concerning format has been T20Is, as Pakistan has seen a sharp decline since they lost the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup final to England. They have managed to win just 16 of their 43 T20 internationals and have lost against teams like Ireland, USA, and Zimbabwe.

Senior cricketers Babar Azam and Mohammed Rizwan have faced immense criticism for their approach in the shorter format at the top of the Pakistan batting order. Their strike rates of 120-130 have affected the middle order and mounted immense pressure on them to score quick runs.

Now they have announced a revamped squad for the T20Is in the Bangladesh tour.

Shadab Khan and Haris Rauf to miss Bangladesh T20Is

The Pakistan squad for the upcoming T20I series for the Bangladesh tour has been announced, and Salman Ali Agha has been appointed as the skipper of the side. The captain will, however, miss the services of two of his best players.

Pakistan's trump card spinner, Shadab Khan, has had shoulder surgery that will keep him out of the game for some time before he can make a possible comeback. While star pacer Haris Rauf has also been found injured, with a hamstring injury that he sustained during his stint in the MLC.

ALSO READ: Pakistan great insults Rishabh Pant with "Indian Shahid Afridi" claim, before backtracking

Babar Azam deeply moved after T20I snub; Australia steps in as saviour

Some sources of Pakistani media close to the former Pakistan skipper mentioned that Babar Azam was deeply hurt by his snub from the T20I squad.

This was only until he was offered a lifeline by the Big Bash League side Sydney Sixers, who opted to pick him up for the upcoming season. Babar would hence be focused on scoring runs and proving his effectiveness, still as a specialist T20 batter, to make a national side comeback without donning gloves.