Faf du Plessis believes Pakistan will get the best out of Babar Azam only if the batter and head coach Mike Hesson sit down for what he called “honest conversations”.
Speaking on the eve of Pakistan’s rain-ruined fixture against New Zealand, the former South Africa captain described Babar as “a world-class player”, yet one who has slipped “a little bit behind in terms of strike rates” as T20 cricket has accelerated.
“I think all great players evolve their careers at different points,” du Plessis told ESPN’s TimeOut programme. “We know Babar as one of the world’s best players for a very long time. I think the game of T20 cricket has moved so fast forward into strike rates that he’s found himself a little bit behind in terms of strike rates.”
Du Plessis accepts that Hesson faces a tactical puzzle. “If you’re Mike Hesson, you’re trying to find the best way to introduce him into the game. On tricky surfaces, there is a role for someone to play in the 120-130 strike rate. Hesson would have thought, ‘how can I get the best out of Babar Azam?’ The game has moved too far forward to be at 120-130. Now, you need to be 160 to 190 to 200-plus for you to maximise that first six.”
Context matters, he added, particularly because all of Pakistan’s group matches are in Sri Lanka rather than India. “At this venue and in the specific conditions where there’s going to be a lot of spin, there can be a lot of value from someone like him in the middle and making sure that he anchors the innings.”
Babar’s numbers back up the concern. His power-play strike-rate at the last T20 World Cup hovered below a run-a-ball, and Hesson has already suggested his captain is better suited “through the middle” overs. The scrutiny is intense; Babar’s form tends to be treated as a barometer for Pakistan’s prospects, and the selectors have oscillated between dropping and recalling him over the past six months. A moderate Big Bash League campaign did little to settle the debate.
For du Plessis the solution is rooted in clarity. “It starts with honesty,” he said. “That’s the groundwork of any conversation that happens. Once you’re honest in your conversation [as a coach] then everything flows from that, whereas if you are hopping around and not telling the truth as a coach or a captain, it leads to holes that a player can jump onto. So the nature of the conversation is always really important.”
Analysis
1. Strike-rate shift: Average power-play scoring in leading T20 leagues now tops 8.5 an over; Babar is closer to 7.
2. Role definition: Pakistan must choose between Babar as classical anchor on slower wickets or a more dynamic option up front. Cricket Australia used a similar rethink with Steve Smith, briefly moving him down the order before restoring him when surfaces warranted patience.
3. Player standing: Babar’s star power complicates selection decisions. Dropping him can unsettle commercial partners and supporters, yet carrying an under-performing opener risks deeper campaign damage.
Pakistan have time before their next match in Kandy. Whether that gap is used for technical drills or those “honest conversations” could decide how far they travel in this World Cup.
