Pakistan’s interim red-ball coach
England secured an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series after a dominant innings and 103-run victory at Headingley, followed by a 194-run win at Lord’s. In the wake of these results, the PCB implemented significant changes, including the departure of head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul, before appointing Hesson to lead the side for the upcoming
Clarifying the selection process
Addressing the media in Birmingham on Friday, Hesson provided insight into the timeline of the squad changes. He specifically clarified that the release of Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, and Imam-ul-Haq occurred before he was approached to take over the coaching duties. According to Hesson, these three senior players were already in the process of returning home when he was contacted by the board.
Hesson stated that he had no involvement in the decision-making process regarding those three individuals, noting that he was only brought into the fold after their departures had been finalized. However, he did confirm that he played a direct role in the subsequent adjustments made to the remainder of the squad, which included the integration of several new players.
Focusing on squad balance for Edgbaston
The interim coach explained that his appointment followed a recent stint with Pakistan’s white-ball setup, which included a camp in Lahore and a trip to Japan for the Asian Games. Upon his return, he was tasked with managing the red-ball side for the final encounter of the series. Hesson emphasized that his primary objective for the Edgbaston Test is to establish a more balanced team composition.
Looking ahead to the final match, Hesson expressed a desire to introduce more variety into the bowling attack. He highlighted the importance of incorporating bowling all-rounders to provide the team with greater tactical flexibility. The revamped squad for the final Test features Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, alongside a group of uncapped players including Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran, and Razaullah.
