Mike Hesson confirmed as Pakistan's new white-ball head coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) continues to test local and foreign coaching options for its national team which has been badly struggling in recent years with the exception of a few home and away series success in red and white-ball cricket.

After the debacle in the ICC Champions Trophy and a pathetic white-ball series in New Zealand recently under former interim head coach and senior selector Aqib Javed, the PCB has opted to hire the services of former New Zealand head coach Mike Hesson as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach.

Hesson, who also has been coaching Islamabad United for the third straight season now, will begin his Pakistan’s coaching stint from May 26 as the nation is set to host Bangladesh in the five-match T20I series which may face some dates adjustment in its initial part due to the HBL PSL final which will be held on May 25.

“The PCB today announced the appointment of Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team effective from 26 May, 2025,” the PCB said.

“Hesson comes in to fill the post after evaluation of numerous applications received against the vacancy which was vacant after Pakistan men’s team tour to New Zealand in April,” the Board said.

The PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi also welcomed his induction and hoped that under Hesson Pakistan will show some progress in its white-ball cricket growth.

“Mike brings with him a wealth of international experience and a proven track record of developing competitive sides. We look forward to his expertise and leadership in shaping the future of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket. Welcome to the team, Mike,” Naqvi said.

Besides hosting Bangladesh in a five-match T20I series, Pakistan also are scheduled this year to tour West Indies from July 31 to August 12 for three ODIs and three T20I.

The PCB has kept making frequent changes in its selection committee and coaching staff since Naqvi taking charge as head of the Board.

On April 28, 2024, the Board announced former South Africa’s opener Gary Kirsten and former Australian pacer Jason Gillespie as Pakistan’s white-ball and red-ball head coaches, respectively, for two years.

However, they both had to quit early after the authorities reduced their selection roles quite drastically, leaving them in awkward situation which badly impacted Pakistan’s onward progress.

Kirsten was not too vocal while Gillespie used to speak in media criticizing the PCB and even the interim head coach Aqib Javed who termed him as a ‘clown’.

Kirsten, under whose coaching Pakistan showed pathetic display in the US in the T20 World Cup by facing group stage exit after losing to both US and India, could not coach Pakistan in ODIs.

After relinquishing his role as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach in November last year just ahead of Pakistan’s tour to Australia, Aqib Javed, who was also a senior member of the selection committee, was assigned the task as an interim white-ball head coach.

And when Gillespie quit his seat the following month, Aqib was declared as all-format Pakistan’s interim head coach.

Aqib’s tenure as interim coach ended with the ICC Champions Trophy but he was given extension in his role for the white-ball series against New Zealand where the Green-shirts flopped miserably in both ODIs and T20s.

Meanwhile Aqib Javed has been appointed as the Director High-Performance.

“To strengthen our cricket infrastructure, we are pleased to welcome Aqib Javed as the Director of High Performance. His appointment, alongside Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach, marks a significant step forward in our strategic vision for Pakistan cricket,” Naqvi said.

“Together their expertise and leadership will play a pivotal role in the development, evolution and success of our national setup.”