![Babar Azam defended against Pakistan coach [Source: PCB]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1776674975130_BabarAzam.jpg?type=hq)
Babar Azam defended against Pakistan coach [Source: PCB]
Babar Azam tonked a match-winning century against Quetta Gladiators in match number 29 of the PSL 2026 season. Opening the innings for the Peshawar Zalmi, the senior captain and legendary opening batter blasted a 52-ball ton as his side romped to its seventh straight win this tournament.
Following Babar’s century, Peshawar Zalmi assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has now taken potshots at Pakistan national head coach Mike Hesson, claiming that the New Zealander ‘misused’ the Pakistani great at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.
Azhar Mahmood blames Mike Hesson for Babar Azam, Pakistan’s misfortunes
Former Pakistan all-rounder and Peshawar Zalmi assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has lambasted national head coach Mike Hesson for allegedly ‘misusing’ Babar Azam at the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka a couple of months ago.
It is worth noting that Babar, who has spent the majority of his T20I career as a top-order batter, was relegated down the order throughout Pakistan’s campaign at the multi-nation event.
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While speaking with the reporters after the PSL 2026 match on April 19, Azhar Mahmood said “You batted him at number 4 by complaining about strike rates.
Talking about strike rates, Sahibzada Farhan has a strike rate of 135 and he was Pakistan’s best batter at the T20 World Cup. Babar’s strike rate is 128, which is not that different. I do not believe he was utilized properly.”
As it turned out, the senior batter underwent a poor tournament, with the Pakistan team also failing to make it to the top four.
Babar Azam’s lean patch in T20 World Cup 2026
While Babar Azam has emerged as one of the most proficient run-makers in the ongoing PSL 2026 season, the legendary Pakistan batter endured a lean T20 World Cup 2026 in Sri Lanka earlier this year.
Forced to bat in the middle order, the cricketer scored just 91 runs in four innings of the tournament at an abysmal average of 22.75 and a lowly strike rate of 112.34.
It is worth noting that Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson and the rest of the team management had a huge role to play in relegating Babar down the batting order.
His T20I strike rate of 128.02, and his prior home series performances against South Africa and Australia may have likely led to the team management opting for more aggressive options at the top.
Peshawar Zalmi on top, Babar Azam at number two in PSL 2026
The former Pakistan captain seems to be responding his critics in style, as the cricketer has racked up 401 runs in just seven innings of PSL 2026 at a prolific average of 100.25 and with a strike rate of 143.72. As of now, Babar is ranked second among the leading run-scorers of the tournament, falling behind only teammate Kusal Mendis by mere 12 runs.
Moreover, under Babar’s leadership, the Peshawar Zalmi franchise is yet to lose a single game this PSL 2026 season. With seven wins and one no result from eight matches, they are placed at the top of the eight-team points table.
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