Mike Hesson, the former New Zealand cricketer and renowned coach, has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket team. The announcement was made by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Hesson, who is currently serving as the head coach of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchise Islamabad United, is set to join the national team setup on May 26. Just a day later, Pakistan will begin a five-match T20I home series against Bangladesh, with Mohammad Rizwan expected to lead the squad.
Coaching and selection roles within the PCB are often subject to abrupt changes, and the position of head coach has seen particular instability in recent years. The head coach role remained vacant for some time after the brief tenure of former Indian World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten. Following Kirsten’s departure, former Pakistani fast bowler Aaqib Javed served as interim coach, guiding the team through bilateral series and the Champions Trophy. However, his contract expired in February, and he chose not to renew it.
In its job posting for the head coach position, the PCB specified that applicants must hold a Level-3 coaching certification and have at least ten years of experience in domestic and international cricket. These qualifications made Hesson one of the frontrunners for the role.
Mike Hesson brings a wealth of coaching experience to Pakistan’s national setup. After retiring from playing, he began his coaching career in 2003 with the Argentina national team. He later took charge of Kenya in 2011 but resigned citing security concerns. In July 2012, he was appointed head coach of New Zealand, a role he held until 2018. Hesson also served as Director of Cricket Operations for Royal Challengers Bangalore in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
In November 2023, Hesson was appointed head coach of Islamabad United. In his debut PSL season, he led the franchise to its third championship title.
In addition to Hesson’s appointment, Aaqib Javed has now been named Pakistan’s Director of High Performance, marking his return to a key role within the national cricketing structure.
