Pakistan’s white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, is pushing for a new cricketing style and deeper squad competition as the team prepares for crucial tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.
A New Era for Pakistan Cricket
Following a recent 1-2 series loss to Bangladesh, Mike Hesson, the newly appointed white-ball coach for Pakistan, is emphasizing the urgent need for squad depth and internal competition. His tenure began with a dominant whitewash against Bangladesh at home, but the Mirpur series exposed areas needing improvement.
Pakistan has embarked on a significant squad overhaul after their past T20 World Cup and Champions Trophy setbacks. The current team is led by Salman Agha, with prominent players like Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Naseem Shah notably absent from the lineup.
Learning from Recent Challenges
Hesson, known for his success in T20 franchise cricket, was brought in to modernize Pakistan’s approach, which many felt had become outdated. Reflecting on his initial six games in charge, he shared valuable insights gleaned from playing on diverse pitches.
“First 6 games on two contrasting pitches gave us key insights,” Hesson posted on X. He noted that the young batting group excelled early with high scores. The pitches in Mirpur, notoriously low-scoring for T20Is, severely tested the team’s adaptability, but they showed resilience and a capacity to learn.
Hesson also highlighted the emergence of new players who stepped up and performed well. He praised the specialist coaches for their role in developing bowlers. Furthermore, the team’s fielding showed significant improvement in the latter matches, starting to resemble a top international side.
Building Consistency for Big Stages
Pakistan currently ranks 8th in the world in T20Is, a position Hesson aims to improve. He believes the team must develop a consistent style of cricket to perform better in major events.
“Currently sitting 8th in the world we need to create depth and competition for places as well as play a style of cricket that can give us more consistency over time, especially at key event like Asia Cup and World Cups,” Hesson reiterated.
The Road Ahead
The next six months are critical for Pakistan as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. Upcoming challenges include a three-match T20I series against West Indies in Lauderhill, followed by the Asia Cup in September, where they will face strong teams like India, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka.
A series against South Africa will further test their resolve and help fine-tune the squad. Hesson’s focus remains on finding the right combination and developing a style that brings consistent success on the international stage.
- Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson is pushing for squad depth and a consistent playing style.
- The team is undergoing a significant overhaul, with new players leading the charge.
- Hesson observed improved batting, adaptability, and fielding in recent matches.
- Developing a modern T20 approach is key for upcoming tournaments like the Asia Cup and T20 World Cup.
The upcoming series and tournaments will be crucial tests for Pakistan as they aim to climb the rankings and establish themselves as a formidable white-ball team under Hesson’s guidance.
