ISLAMABAD: Pakistan men’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has urged the country’s leading batsmen and bowlers to significantly raise their standards if the national side is to emerge as a serious contender for the next ICC ODI World Cup, now just 18 months away.
Speaking in the PCB Podcast, Hesson candidly pointed out Pakistan’s major shortcomings in the 50-over format, saying the team has struggled both with wicket-taking in the powerplay overs and accelerating the scoring rate during the crucial middle phase of the innings.
“The bowlers and batsmen will have to raise the standard of their game in order to make progress in ODI cricket. At the same time, we are watching some talented youngsters like Maaz Sadaqat, having the ability to step up to replace the non-performers,” Hesson said. “At the moment, Salman Ali Agha is the lone batsman consistently scoring runs with an average above fifty in recent matches. We need greater contributions from the middle-order and more intent in the middle overs.”
The former New Zealand coach stressed that Pakistan often leaves too much work for the closing stages of an innings, placing unnecessary pressure on the lower middle order and finishers.
“Often we leave too much for the final overs, which creates pressure situations. Modern ODI cricket demands momentum throughout the innings. Teams consistently scoring 300 to 325 runs are the ones succeeding regularly, and for that, every batsman must contribute,” he said. Hesson also challenged Pakistan’s pace attack to become more disciplined and adaptable across varying conditions rather than relying on favourable pitches.
“It should not be about bowling only on wickets offering assistance. Our bowlers must be capable of performing in every situation and on every type of surface. Consistency, accuracy and aggression are the keys,” he added.
The head coach praised foreign fielding coach Shane McDermott for helping improve Pakistan’s fielding standards, an area long criticised in international cricket, but admitted there was still considerable room for improvement in overall fitness levels.
“Fitness is absolutely vital if you want to achieve the best possible results on the field. Modern cricket is extremely demanding and players have to maintain high standards in every department,” Hesson remarked.
Calling the next few months crucial for Pakistan cricket, Hesson said the team was entering a decisive phase in its preparations for future international assignments and the World Cup campaign.
“The next three to four months are very important for Pakistan cricket. This period will determine how quickly we can progress as an ODI side,” he said. Hesson also highlighted the importance of aggressive new-ball bowling and said Pakistan’s pace unit had the potential to dominate opposition teams in the powerplay overs if they executed their plans properly.
Referring to Pakistan’s fast-bowling resources, he said: “As a captain, Shaheen Shah Afridi must ensure the bowlers understand the importance of striking early. Bowlers can be effective through pace, discipline and maintaining the right line and length.”
He named Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah, Abdul Subhan, and Ahmad Danyal as pacers capable of making a strong impact in ODI cricket, provided they maintain consistency.
On spin bowling, Hesson described Abrar Ahmed as Pakistan’s most promising attacking spinner in the format, while stating that young left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqeem faces a major challenge in adapting from T20 cricket to the demands of ODI cricket. “Sufyan’s transition from T20 to ODI cricket will be very important. In ODI cricket, bowlers have to be tighter and smarter because the field settings and game situations are completely different,” Hesson explained.
The Pakistan coach reiterated that modern ODI cricket requires complete performances in batting, bowling and fielding if teams are to consistently challenge the world’s best sides.
On recent preparations, Hesson maintained: “The last two weeks provided a good opportunity for us to identify new talent, assess them alongside existing players and understand where the gaps are. Some of these young players are promising, but there is still work to do.”
On the new talent, Pakistan team head coach said: “New players coming into international cricket sometimes require time.
They have earned opportunities through strong domestic performances and we have to give them enough time to develop. “There needs to be patience with younger players. International cricket is challenging and not every player performs immediately. Some players simply need time and experience.”
