Mohammad Hafeez, who recently resigned from his role as the team director and de facto head coach of the Pakistan National team, revealed that it took him two months to persuade Babar Azam to alter his batting position. This adjustment was aimed at helping Pakistan’s T20I side find the optimal combination in the playing XI.

The former Pakistan captain stressed the importance of Babar stepping down from his role as an opener to facilitate the formation of the right combination in the playing XI. Babar Azam collaborated with the Pakistan team director for two months, during which this change was discussed and implemented.

Hafeez believes that for the national team to thrive, the captain of Peshawar Zalmi must relinquish his position as an opener and prioritize the team’s interests over personal preferences.

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Expressing his viewpoint on a television program, Hafeez emphasized that both Mohammad Rizwan and Babar need to recognize that the Pakistan team’s success outweighs individual achievements.

Following the disappointing performance in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, the Pakistan team underwent significant changes, and since then, Babar has been batting at No. 3 in the national squad.

“We need to build a cohesive team, and for that, I suggested that you come in at number 3 because you have been fulfilling this role in ODI cricket for the past six years, so the transition won’t be difficult for you. You have a strong technical foundation,” Hafeez remarked during the television show.

Babar Azam altered his batting position during the New Zealand series and demonstrated remarkable consistency by scoring three consecutive fifties against the Kiwis.

Currently leading Peshawar Zalmi in the ongoing PSL season, Babar is on the verge of achieving a significant milestone, as he is just seven runs away from becoming the fastest player to reach 10,000 runs in the shortest format of the game.