In the wake of significant changes to the Pakistan cricket squad, interim red-ball coach Mike Hesson has spoken out regarding the recent decision to release seven players ahead of the third and final Test against England. This shake-up follows two heavy defeats in the series, where England claimed victory by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley and followed up with a 194-run win at Lord’s, establishing a 2-0 lead in the series.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made the controversial decision to send home key players, including Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar, and Khurram Shahzad. Alongside these player releases, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also relieved of their duties. Hesson was appointed to take charge of the Test side for the upcoming match at Edgbaston, scheduled to begin on September 9.
During a media interaction in Birmingham, Hesson clarified that he was not involved in the decision regarding the three senior players—Rizwan, Agha, and Imam—who had already departed the squad before he was approached for the coaching role. He stated, “When they (Pakistan Cricket Board) told me if I could manage the side for the final Test, these three players (Rizwan, Agha and Imam) were already released from the squad and (were) on their way home. So, I really don’t know what happened there.”
While distancing himself from the initial player releases, Hesson acknowledged his involvement in reshaping the remainder of the squad. He noted, “I was involved in the release of the rest of the players and the inclusion of some new players.” Hesson had recently returned from Japan, where he was engaged with Pakistan’s white-ball setup, when the PCB requested his assistance with the red-ball team.
With Pakistan's chances of winning the Test series already dashed, Hesson is focused on creating a more balanced squad for the final match. He expressed a desire to enhance the bowling attack's variety and emphasized the importance of including a few bowling all-rounders. “I decided to make some changes in the squad to get balance into the squad and my emphasis has been on having a bowling attack which has variety,” he explained.
The revamped squad for the Edgbaston Test includes new faces such as Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, alongside uncapped players Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah. These changes reflect Hesson’s strategy to inject fresh talent into the squad as Pakistan aims to end the series on a high note, despite the challenges faced in the earlier matches.
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