ISLAMABAD: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson Monday stressed the urgent need for improvement in both batting and bowling if Pakistan are to emerge as genuine contenders against the world’s leading ODI teams ahead of the 2027 World Cup.
Speaking to media during Pakistan’s training session at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, Hesson admitted that the national side continued to struggle in crucial phases of the 50-over game, particularly in the Power Play (in bowling) and middle-overs (in batting).
“The series against Australia is important because we are trying to assess the best options available for the future of Pakistan ODI cricket,” Hesson said. “We are considering different combinations and different players in order to streamline things. There are several challenges in front of us and we have to find solutions quickly.”
The former New Zealand coach pointed out that Pakistan’s inability to strike early with the ball and failure to accelerate in the middle overs had been hurting the team consistently. “Our bowlers are not taking wickets in the Power Play, while the batting unit is also not scoring enough during the middle overs. That creates additional pressure in the final overs,” he said. “We have been working on these areas for almost a year but the improvement has not been satisfactory. Either players have to realise what is required at this level or we will have to look at other options.”
Hesson made it clear that preparations for the 2027 ICC ODI World Cup had already begun and Pakistan could not afford to waste opportunities in bilateral series. “The World Cup is our real target and we need to play more ODI cricket before that event. Ten ODIs before the World Cup are simply not enough. The more matches we play, the better understanding we will have about our combinations and strengths.”
The Pakistan coach also defended the management’s decision regarding former ODI captain Mohammad Rizwan, saying the move was aimed at exploring fresh options rather than targeting any individual player. “After the West Indies ODI series, we felt there was a need to move in a different direction with the captaincy because results were not coming,” Hesson explained. “Since I became the coach, Rizwan has not been part of the T20I side. Even before my arrival he was neither captain nor part of that squad.”
He added that the same standards applied to every player in the national setup. “The message given through Rizwan’s omission is the same for everyone. We have to prioritise the interests of the team over individual performances.
