Pakistan tell Babar Azam to improve strike rate to return to T20Is

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said former skipper Babar Azam must improve his batting against spin and boost the strike rate to return to T20 internationals.

Babar's omission from Pakistan's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup was a big call considering the 30-year-old had been the batting mainstay in their national side across formats.

"There's no doubt Babar's been asked to improve in some areas around taking on spin and in terms of his strike rate," Hesson said.

Babar's T20I strike rate is 129, which is modest for openers. The growing influence of Sahibzada Farhan in T20Is meant the Pakistani selectors had to overlook experience for form. "Sahibzada Farhan has played six games and won three player-of-the-match awards," Hesson said.

The coach said Babar has been working on the areas he must improve and is hoping the Big Bash League in Australia will be a turning point.

"A player like Babar has an opportunity to play in the BBL and show he's improving in those areas in T20s. He's too good a player not to consider," Hesson said.

Pakistan are in Group A alongside India, Oman and the hosts, the UAE. Their first match is against Oman in Dubai on September 12 before meeting arch-rivals India two days later.