Mike Hesson Appointed as the New Head Coach of Pakistan
- Abeera Marium Siddiqui
- May 14, 2025
- 4:26 pm
- 38
- Sports
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has named Mike Hesson as the new head coach of Pakistan for white-ball cricket. He will lead the ODI and T20I teams starting 26 May 2025. This move follows Pakistan’s recent tour of New Zealand and a careful search for the right candidate.
Hesson brings years of international coaching experience. He led New Zealand from 2012 to 2018 and took them to the 2015 ICC World Cup final. He also coached Kenya and is currently the head coach of Islamabad United, the defending champions of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).
PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the appointment through a press release and a post on X (formerly Twitter). He wrote, “I am pleased to announce the appointment of former New Zealand cricketer and renowned coach Mike Hesson as the white-ball head coach of the Pakistan men’s team.” Naqvi further added, “Mike brings with him a wealth of international experience and a proven track record of developing competitive sides. We look forward to his expertise and leadership in shaping the future of Pakistan’s white-ball cricket.”
The role of new head coach of Pakistan became vacant after Gary Kirsten stepped down just seven months into his job. He left due to differences with the PCB. Aaqib Javed took over as interim coach and held the post for five months. He will now serve as Director of High Performance and will continue on the PCB selection committee.
The PCB has offered Hesson a two-year contract. His first challenge as the new head coach of Pakistan will be a five-match T20I series against Bangladesh, set to begin on 25 May.
Hesson is known for his calm leadership style and sharp analysis. He also worked as director of cricket for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the IPL until 2023. Now, he will focus on helping Pakistan build consistency and improve performance in limited-overs cricket.
With Mike Hesson as the new head coach of Pakistan and Aaqib Javed taking on a strategic role, the PCB aims to rebuild its white-ball structure. These changes mark a fresh start for the team as it looks to bounce back from recent struggles.
