Former director of the Pakistan cricket team, Mohammad Hafeez, revealed that he advised Babar Azam to bat at third for his country. In the just-finished T20I series against New Zealand, Babar Azam played in the number-three position. He noted that it took him several months to convince Babar Azam to bat at number three in T20Is.
The former all-rounder claimed he advised Babar and Mohammad Rizwan to consider the team as a whole rather than just themselves. The team management made the decision to split up Babar and Rizwan ahead of the T20I series against New Zealand, despite their tremendous success as openers in the shorter format.
However, Rizwan later acknowledged that the choice had an adverse impact on the team. Although Saim Ayub and Rizwan, Pakistan’s opening combination, failed to score much, Babar, who batted third in the T20I series against the Blackcaps, was one of the team’s top run scorers. Despite three consecutive half-centuries from the right-handed batter, Pakistan lost the five-match series 4-1.
Took me about 2 months to convince Babar Azam – Mohammad Hafeez on changing former skipper’s batting position in T20Is
In an interview with a local channel, Mohammad Hafeez remembers pointing out Rizwan and Babar Azam that they are not the entire team.
“It took me about two months to convince Babar Azam that you have to do it for Pakistan and you are not the first one who’s doing it. You are a great player, you are a wonderful player and you are playing great cricket however you have to develop the Pakistan team. You and Rizwan are very good players, excellent players but you are not the whole team,” he elaborated.
Following a dismal effort at the 2023 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, Hafeez was named director of the Pakistan men’s cricket team. With only four wins, the team was unable to advance to the semifinals. The leadership structure of Pakistan witnessed numerous changes as a result.
I think this is the best way to move- Mohammad Hafeez thanked Babar for accepting the number 3 position
Given that Babar Azam plays the same position in ODIs, Mohammad Hafeez expressed optimism that the batsman would find his groove at No. 3 in T20Is.
“We need to develop a team and for that, I want you to come at No. 3 because you have been playing this role in the ODI cricket for the last six years, so it won’t affect you; technically you are very solid. Thank you very much to him that he accepted this and he played for Pakistan at No. 3 which obviously I think is the best way to move,” he stated.
After the two defeats in Australia and New Zealand, PCB terminated Mohammad Hafeez’s contract. Pakistan lost the Test series against Australia 0-3 at the end of their trip, and the T20I series against New Zealand concluded in a 1-4 loss.