Hesson Confirms Babar Azam to Bat at No.3 as Pakistan Reset for South Africa T20Is

RAWALPINDI: Mike Hesson did not dodge the question. He walked in calm, firm, and clear about Pakistan’s plan. No mystery. No big reveal. Just a straight strategy. “I certainly endorse his selection, and he is likely to bat at number three,” he said when asked about Babar Azam’s batting position for the upcoming T20I series against South Africa.

That line mattered. It cut through months of debate around Babar’s role in Pakistan’s shortest format. Open or bat three? Anchor or accelerator? Hesson settled it, at least for now. “I am hoping that he will do well,” he added, not as a polite coach reply but as a statement of expectation.

Babar Azam returns to Pakistan’s limited-overs squad after being rested for the home series against Bangladesh. His last T20I appearance came earlier this year against South Africa. Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach wants rhythm in selection and clarity in roles. Babar at three provides both. It allows Saim Ayub and Sahibzada Farhan room to explore quick starts. It also gives Pakistan a stabilizer if early wickets fall.

Hesson didn’t sugarcoat the omissions either. Mohammad Haris is out. Fakhar Zaman has been rested. These weren’t random selections. They were decisions rooted in logic.

“We gave Mohammad Haris several opportunities, but he couldn’t make the most of them,” Hesson said. No spin. No ambiguity. Just honesty. Pakistan tried Haris as an impact hitter, but he didn’t cash in. “He is a young player and needs to improve his batting in domestic cricket,” he added. The door is not closed, but Haris must return the hard way, through the runs.

On Fakhar, Hesson kept it simple. “Fakhar has been rested so that he returns fresh for the ODIs.” Fakhar remains central to Pakistan’s ODI plans, and management wants him to peak in November. 

There was also a nod to Usman Khan, who kept his place. “Usman Khan plays spin well, which will be an advantage in Sri Lanka,” Hesson said. This is not a throwaway line. Pakistan has one eye on the T20 World Cup in 2026. Subcontinent conditions matter. Players who handle spin stay relevant.

South Africa has arrived with intent. Hesson knows what they bring. “South Africa is a dangerous side,” he said. He dismissed cheap narratives around their shock T20 World Cup loss to Namibia earlier this year. “The team that lost to Namibia was a different one,” he reminded. This South Africa squad may not carry all their big names, but they carry enough punch to hurt Pakistan.

South Africa T20 Squad

Donovan Ferreira (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Nandre Burger, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Matthew Breetzke, Nqaba Peter, Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Tony de Zorzi, Andile Simelane, Lizaad Williams.

Donovan Ferreira leads the visitors. Dewald Brevis adds range. Reeza Hendricks brings experience. Quinton de Kock brings scars of past battles. Lungi Ngidi and Nandre Burger bring pace and anger. They are not here for a quiet tour.

Pakistan T20 Squad

Salman Ali Agha (c), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Hasan Nawaz, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Usman Khan (wk), Usman Tariq

Pakistan will lean on pace. Shaheen Shah Afridi returns. Naseem Shah sits beside him again. Faheem Ashraf adds utility. Mohammad Wasim Jnr and Abrar Ahmed can be good in the middle overs. Usman Tariq and Mohammad Salman Mirza also got the welcome call.

The T20I series is short with only 3 matches. But Hesson sees it as more than fixtures. It’s selection pressure. “We already have 15 players in mind for the World Cup, with competition for one or two spots,” he said. The message is loud. Selection now demands performance. Reputations won’t hold places anymore.

The 1st T20I of Pak vs SA series begins on October 28 at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium. Then Lahore hosts the last two on October 31 and November 2. Watch this exciting yet thrilling T20 series live on tapmad. No ad-interruptions. No delays. Watch at your ease. 

The crowd will come for Afridi, Babar, and Brevis. But the story may belong to Hesson, the man building Pakistan’s next white-ball chapter, brick by strategic brick. This team now has a plan. Soon, the scoreboard will show if it works.