Pakistan T20I: Babar Azam Returns To Silence Critics In T20I Series

Babar Azam returns to Pakistan’s T20I squad after a year-long absence, set to face South Africa in a three-match series starting Tuesday. The former captain, needing just nine runs to surpass Rohit Sharma’s record of 4,231 T20I runs, will bat at No. 3—a position where he averages 44.84. White-ball coach Mike Hesson had sidelined Babar since December 2024 over concerns about his 129.22 strike rate and technique, favoring Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, and Fakhar Zaman in the top order.

Fakhar Zaman’s request to focus on first-class cricket ahead of the ODI series forced Hesson to recall Babar. “It’s a great opportunity to get Babar back,” Hesson said, expressing confidence in his role at No. 3. Without Babar, Pakistan won series against Bangladesh and West Indies but lost to India in the Asia Cup. The 30-year-old has scored 4,223 runs in 123 T20Is at 39.83, making him one of the format’s most consistent performers despite strike-rate scrutiny.

South Africa will be led by Donovan Ferreira in the absence of injured captain David Miller, who strained his hamstring. Fast bowlers Gerald Coetzee and Kwena Maphaka are also ruled out due to pectoral and hamstring injuries, respectively. Matthew Breetzke and uncapped Tony de Zorzi have been drafted in. Quinton de Kock returns to white-ball cricket after reversing his ODI retirement, marking his first T20I since the 2024 World Cup final loss to India.

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Babar’s inclusion has generated massive fan excitement, with crowds flocking to Tests in Lahore and Rawalpindi. His 131 runs in four innings against South Africa included a fighting 50, though he fell to spinners thrice. With the T20 World Cup looming, this series is Babar’s platform to reclaim his spot and silence doubts about his explosive batting credentials.

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