Mike Hesson has been appointed as the new head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi officially announced the name of the former New Zealand cricketer and renowned coach.
Hesson is currently the coach of PSL franchise Islamabad United. He is scheduled to join the Pakistan camp on May 26. A day later, Mohammad Rizwan will face Bangladesh in a five-match T20 series at home.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is constantly changing positions. Even more uncertain is the job of the country’s national team coach and selectors. The post of Pakistan’s head coach has been vacant for some time.
The last permanent head coach was Gary Kirsten, who won the World Cup for India. After he left for a short period in Pakistan, former Pakistan pacer Aqib Javed took over as interim coach. Babar and Shaheen played several bilateral series and the Champions Trophy under him. But Javed’s contract with the PCB also expired in February. After that, he announced that he would not renew his contract.
The PCB had mentioned in its recruitment notice for the head coach that the person applying for the post of coach would need a level-three certificate and should have at least 10 years of experience in domestic and international cricket. From that perspective, many were putting Hesson ahead in the race for Pakistan’s potential coach.
Mike Hesson has had a rich career as a coach. After playing for New Zealand, he served as the coach of the Argentina cricket team in 2003. After taking charge of the Kenya cricket team in 2011, he resigned due to ‘security reasons’. He took over as the coach of the New Zealand team in July 2012 and resigned in 2018. Hesson also served as the cricket director of Royal Challengers Bangalore in the IPL.
Hesson took over as the head coach of Islamabad United in November 2023. Under him, Islamabad won their third PSL title last season. That was his debut season in the PSL.
