'Salman given break due to Hasan's unavailability'

Head coach of the Pakistan white-ball cricket, Mike Hesson, on Thursday said that pacer Hasan Ali's unavailability for the upcoming Bangladesh series, fast bowler Salman Ali Mirza was called up.

"Hasan will be available for the upcoming ODI series against the West Indies. "Hasan is currently in good form and will join the team in the Caribbean. Due to his temporary unavailability, we have decided to give a chance to Salman Mirza," he added.

Commenting on Pakistan's fast bowling department, Hesson acknowledged the talent of Shaheen Shah Afridi but noted that he needs further improvement. "Shaheen is a world-class bowler, but he must continue working hard to solidify his place in the team."

Meanwhile, Haris Rauf is also sidelined with an injury and will miss upcoming fixtures.

Hesson further clarified that former captain and top-order batter Babar Azam is not being considered for the wicketkeeping role.

Addressing media on the second day of the national training camp at National Stadium Karachi, the New Zealand-born coach emphasised that while Babar is working to reclaim his position as an opener, options such as Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub are also being considered.

"There has been no discussion about Babar keeping wickets. If he makes it into the playing XI, he could potentially open alongside Fakhar or Saim," said Hesson.

Hesson admitted that the team is trying to address flaws in player performance, particularly in batting. "Our players' low strike rates have impacted Pakistan's overall T20 batting rankings. No player has been told to aim for a 150 strike rate, but in modern cricket, you need to adapt. The issue lies more in our batting approach than anything else."

The national camp was relocated to Karachi due to intense heat in Lahore. "Karachi offers more favorable conditions and better weather, which is why the camp was moved here. We're focusing on identifying and correcting player weaknesses," he stated.

As part of the selection committee, Hesson reiterated that his input is part of the team selection process.

Regarding the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh, he called it a challenging assignment. "Playing in Bangladesh is not easy. The pitches favor spinners, which will be a key factor."

He concluded by saying that overseas series are critical for Pakistan, especially given the different playing conditions in countries like Australia, South Africa, and England compared to the subcontinent.