Mike Hesson Explains the Reason Behind Dropping Babar and Rizwan

ISLAMABAD: Mike Hesson’s Pakistan cricket revolution will kick off against Bangladesh without the country’s two biggest stars, Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. The PCB has already named the team that will take on Bangladesh in a three-match series, and the omission of some big names has caused quite a stir in cricketing circles.

However, Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach has provided clear insight into why the star batters have been left out of the upcoming home series.

Rather than form or fitness, Mike Hesson clarified that the decision was rooted in a shift toward a more role-specific approach in T20 cricket—a format where Pakistan has often struggled to keep pace with evolving global trends.

“The plans will be based around what roles we want to play, the style of cricket that we want,” Mike Hesson said while addressing Babar and Rizwan’s omission.

The Kiwi’s statement underscores a key strategic change under the new coaching setup. The focus is now on defining roles within the team first—whether it’s an explosive opener, a spin-hitter at No. 4, or a death overs enforcer—and building the playing XI accordingly. Pakistan’s T20 selections in the past have often revolved around established names without full clarity on role-specific expectations. Hesson is looking to reverse that pattern.

“Once we nail down the way we want to play, then we will start to populate those roles with players we believe can fulfill them.”

It is clear from the new coach’s comments that national selection is now outcome-driven, based on the vision of how Pakistan wants to play its cricket—and only those who align with that vision will be picked. In this framework, no player is undroppable—including Babar and Rizwan—unless they can adapt to the new philosophy.

It is the same strategy Mike Hesson has employed at Islamabad United to great success.

The three-match T20I series against Bangladesh—scheduled from May 28 to June 1 at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium—will now serve as a testing ground for younger, more dynamic options who may better suit this model.

Read more: PCB announces revised schedule of Bangladesh T20I series

Babar and Rizwan, two of Pakistan’s most reliable performers in recent years, have not played a T20I since December 2024. Their continued absence, combined with Hesson’s comments, signals a deliberate pivot toward a more modern, aggressive T20 template.

This approach is not only geared toward the upcoming T20 Asia Cup but is part of a broader rebuild with the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup in mind. Under Hesson, Pakistan’s message is clear: selection will now be dictated by fit-for-purpose players, not past reputation.