‘Took Me 2 Months to Convince Babar Azam to Bat at 3 in T20Is’ – Mohammad Hafeez
Babar Azam used to open alongside Mohammad Rizwan in T20Is before New Zealand series.
Former Pakistan team director Mohammad Hafeez revealed that it was a two-month process to persuade ex-Pakistan captain Babar Azam to assume the number three batting slot in T20 internationals.
Hafeez further revealed that he reminded Babar and Mohammad Rizwan, the duo who once used to open for the national team in T20Is, that they are not the only ones playing, it’s about the whole team.
“It took me around two months to persuade Babar Azam that he’s playing for Pakistan, not just himself. While he’s an outstanding player, he needs to contribute to the team’s development. Both him and Rizwan are excellent players, but they’re not the entire team.,” Hafeez said.
“I suggested he bat at number 3, a role he’s been successful in for the past six years in ODIs, which won’t pose any technical challenges due to his solid skills,” he added.
It’s worth mentioning that Babar had been opening T20 matches alongside Rizwan for over two years, but Hafeez proposed a switch. He suggested Babar take on the number three position, a role he’s well-suited for in One-Day matches.
