Former England captain Michael Vaughan has praised Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson for the way he has handled the role of Babar Azam during the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Vaughan believes Hesson has found a smart tactical solution by deploying Babar as a stabilising presence in the middle order rather than relying on him as the primary aggressor.
Speaking on the Cricbuzz show ahead of Pakistan’s Super 8 clash against the England cricket team at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Vaughan admitted that coaching Pakistan can be extremely challenging due to external pressures and expectations surrounding team selection.
“I admire overseas coaches that go and coach in Pakistan because I can only imagine what’s going on,” Michael Vaughan said.
He then pointed out that Hesson has managed the Babar situation carefully by reshaping his role in the batting lineup rather than sidelining him.
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“But Babar Azam himself, I think Mike Hesson has dealt with it brilliantly because he clearly has to play Babar Azam, and he’s using him as an insurance policy. You lose two wickets; he’s your insurance. He comes in at number four, and he can just play,” Michael Vaughan added.
According to Vaughan, the conditions in Sri Lanka suit Babar’s classical batting style. The surfaces have generally produced moderate totals, making players who can anchor an innings extremely valuable.
“In Sri Lanka, I think he’s absolutely perfect for those wickets because Sri Lanka so far has been 150–180, and I think Babar’s in that range. I think he’ll get Pakistan to a 160–170 score,” he explained.
However, Vaughan also believes Babar may struggle in games where teams are required to chase or post extremely high totals.
“But on a 200-day or a 210-day, Babar’s not going to get you there. I just don’t think he’s that kind of player anymore,” he said.
Despite that limitation, Vaughan still feels Babar’s consistency can play a crucial role in Pakistan’s batting structure, especially on slower surfaces where building partnerships becomes vital.
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“I do admire the way that Mike Hesson has probably played the politics well, and it probably doesn’t give you the best chance of winning the World Cup. But I do feel on a pitch like we’ll find in Pallekele, I would want a Babar Azam in my team. Absolutely,” Michael Vaughan said.
He concluded by acknowledging the challenges of coaching in Pakistan, adding that Hesson and the management have handled the situation well under difficult circumstances.
