ISLAMABAD โ The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has officially appointed Mike Hesson from New Zealand as the head coach of their white-ball cricket squad. This announcement was made on Tuesday, filling the vacancy left by the departure of Gary Kirsten, a South African coach, who exited the position last year. In the interim, the team had been guided by temporary coaches Jason Gillespie and Aaqib Javed.
Mohsin Naqvi, the PCB chairman, expressed his enthusiasm for Hessonโs appointment, highlighting the significance of the new coachโs expertise. โMike brings with him a wealth of international experience and a proven track record of developing competitive sides,โ Naqvi stated. โWe look forward to his expertise and leadership in shaping the future of Pakistanโs white-ball cricket. Welcome to the team, Mike!โ
Prior to this new assignment, Hesson held head coaching roles for the national teams of New Zealand and Kenya. Additionally, he is the current head coach of Islamabad United, the reigning champions of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
Among the candidates for the coaching role were several former cricketers, including Azhar Mahmood. The selection process was conducted by a four-member committee established by the PCB, with Aaqib Javed, who was also named the director of the High Performance Center in Lahore, playing a significant role in the selection.
The arrival of Mike Hesson comes at a pivotal moment as Pakistan gears up to host Bangladesh for a five-match Twenty20 series scheduled for later this month. However, the schedule might see changes following the announcement that the PSL will resume activities on Saturday. This decision follows the recent ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, with the PSL final now slated for May 25.