ISLAMABAD: Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, announced on Monday that former New Zealand cricketer and well-known coach Mike Hesson has been appointed as the new white-ball head coach of the Pakistan national team. His role will officially begin on May 26.
The announcement was made through a social media post in which Naqvi said, “After evaluation of numerous applications received against the vacancy, I’m pleased to announce that former New Zealand cricketer and renowned coach, Mike Hesson, will join us as the new Whiteball Head Coach for the Pakistan National Team, effective May 26th. We look forward to his expertise and guidance in shaping the future of Pakistani cricket. Welcome to the team, Mike!”
Hesson is likely to bring strong international coaching experience to the Pakistan team, especially with big tournaments around the corner, including the ICC T20 World Cup 2024. The tournament is set to begin in June and will be hosted by the USA and West Indies.
Who is Mike Hesson?
Mike Hesson is a well-known cricket coach who earned respect during his time as head coach of the New Zealand national team from 2012 to 2018. During his tenure, New Zealand played impressive cricket and reached the final of the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. Under his guidance, the team became strong and competitive in all formats of the game.
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After leaving New Zealand’s coaching job, Hesson worked with Indian Premier League (IPL) franchises, including Royal Challengers Bangalore, where he served as Director of Cricket Operations.
PCB’s New Coaching Structure
The appointment is part of the PCB’s efforts to revamp the coaching setup of the national team. Hesson’s focus will be on the limited-overs formats — One Day Internationals (ODIs) and T20 Internationals (T20Is) — while a separate coach is expected to be appointed for Test cricket.
His arrival comes at a time when Pakistan is preparing for a crucial period in white-ball cricket, and his experience is seen as a key asset to strengthen the team’s performance on the international stage.
