Hesson named Pakistan’s white-ball head coach

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Tuesday officially announced the appointment of former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson as the head coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team for the white-ball formats (One Day Internationals and Twenty20 Internationals). His tenure will commence on May 26, 2025.

Hesson’s appointment comes after the PCB evaluated numerous applications for the vacant position, which arose following Pakistan’s tour of New Zealand in April.

Hesson steps into the role previously held by Aaqib Javed, who served as the interim head coach following Gary Kirsten’s departure in October 2024. Javed will remain involved with Pakistan cricket, transitioning to the position of Director of High Performance.

The experienced coach boasts an impressive resume, having previously served as the head coach of the national teams of New Zealand and Kenya. Notably, he is currently the head coach of Islamabad United, the reigning champions of the HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Michael James Hesson has a distinguished coaching career, including stints with Argentina and Otago in New Zealand’s domestic cricket. He took over as the head coach of New Zealand on July 20, 2012, succeeding John Wright.

While his contract was initially extended until the 2019 Cricket World Cup, Hesson resigned on June 7, 2018, concluding a highly successful period for the Black Caps, which included leading them to the runners-up position at the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Since 2023, he has been at the helm of the PSL franchise Islamabad United, guiding them to victory in the Pakistan Super League 2024 edition. Hesson’s arrival is expected to bring a fresh perspective and strategic direction to Pakistan’s limited-overs cricket as they prepare for upcoming international assignments.