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Mike Hesson's press conference After Pakistan vs Bangladesh ODI series:
Interviewer: When chasing a target of that magnitude, things have to go your way. How do you assess the team’s performance today, especially after the shaky start at 3 for 17?
Coach: You’re absolutely right. When you’re chasing a target like that, a lot of things have to fall into place. Falling to 3 for 17 obviously put us on the back foot immediately, but I thought the way we responded from that point was exceptional. What was particularly encouraging was seeing our younger players—some of whom are making their debuts in this series—step up. Players like Gazi and Samad showed they belong at this level. While they would have liked to stay out there longer, their composure helped get us back into the contest. From there, Saad Masood and Salman Agha really pulled us back from the brink, and Salman Ali Agha played as well as he has in a long time in ODI cricket. It was a high-quality game of cricket to finish what has been a defining series.
Interviewer: Did you miss Babar Azam with the inexperienced players seemed to struggle across all three matches.
Coach: You have to give players opportunities. We’ve integrated six new players during this series, which is vital for building our depth. We are currently missing several first-choice players, so as a selection group, the goal was to "blood" some new talent. Bangladesh is a notoriously difficult place to play. Despite that, players like Maaz Sadaqat and the three I mentioned earlier showed they have the temperament for international cricket. They’ve had a taste of it now, and it’s up to them to push hard for more opportunities in the future.
Interviewer: Regarding the specific incidents on the field—the tension out in the middle and the issues regarding run-ups—did those moments provide Salman Ali Agha with extra motivation or did they prove to be a distraction?
Coach: He isn't the type of character who needs extra motivation to perform. He spoke very clearly about it after the last match. There was a lot of "hoo-ha" and noise out in the middle, and I think he realized he played a part in that environment. However, he was fiercely determined today—as was the entire squad—to deliver a performance. It resulted in a really fine hundred. I also thought Tanzid Hasan Tamim played beautifully in the first innings, and Salman Agha was exceptional in the second. We witnessed two very high-caliber innings today.
Interviewer: Shaheen has captained the last two series wins at home, but this series ended in a loss. Given Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup and now this series defeat, how concerned are you about the bigger picture?
Coach: We have to remember this was essentially a new team. We made significant progress in those two home series wins under Shaheen’s leadership but for this tour, we viewed it as a specific opportunity to evaluate our youth. There are many positive signs to take away. While the overall result is a series loss, the development of these younger players is a crucial step in rebuilding the ODI squad.
Interviewer: Can you comment on the opposition's batting? How difficult was it to contain them?
Coach: He was relentless. If we missed our mark even slightly, he capitalized. When we bowled too straight, he picked us off; if we went wide, he punished us through the offside. He’s got a very effective slog-sweep against the spin and uses the depth of the crease well. He also showed great mental toughness by batting through adversity and cramps. It was a fine innings that set them up with a very competitive total.
Interviewer: What are your thoughts on Shaheen’s captaincy throughout this series?
Coach: I think he’s done a great job. Leading a side full of youngsters isn't easy; you’re essentially learning about your players' strengths on the fly. Shaheen remained consistently positive. When the energy of the group dipped, he was the one to lift them back up. Tactically, I thought he was quite smart. On a personal level, I also think he bowled as well as he has in a long time from a length perspective. All in all, he’s had a very solid series.
Interviewer: You must be pleased with the bowling performance in the death overs?
Coach: Definitely. To be fair, I was pleased with the way we bowled the final 35 overs. We were a bit untidy in the first 15, but we pulled the game back nicely after that. In the last 10 overs, we used pace changes effectively and found a bit of reverse swing to keep the target within reach. If they had reached 320, the game probably would have been beyond us. There are good signs there from both the veterans and the youngsters.
Interviewer: When chasing a target of that magnitude, things have to go your way. How do you assess the team’s performance today, especially after the shaky start at 3 for 17?
Coach: You’re absolutely right. When you’re chasing a target like that, a lot of things have to fall into place. Falling to 3 for 17 obviously put us on the back foot immediately, but I thought the way we responded from that point was exceptional. What was particularly encouraging was seeing our younger players—some of whom are making their debuts in this series—step up. Players like Gazi and Samad showed they belong at this level. While they would have liked to stay out there longer, their composure helped get us back into the contest. From there, Saad Masood and Salman Agha really pulled us back from the brink, and Salman Ali Agha played as well as he has in a long time in ODI cricket. It was a high-quality game of cricket to finish what has been a defining series.
Interviewer: Did you miss Babar Azam with the inexperienced players seemed to struggle across all three matches.
Coach: You have to give players opportunities. We’ve integrated six new players during this series, which is vital for building our depth. We are currently missing several first-choice players, so as a selection group, the goal was to "blood" some new talent. Bangladesh is a notoriously difficult place to play. Despite that, players like Maaz Sadaqat and the three I mentioned earlier showed they have the temperament for international cricket. They’ve had a taste of it now, and it’s up to them to push hard for more opportunities in the future.
Interviewer: Regarding the specific incidents on the field—the tension out in the middle and the issues regarding run-ups—did those moments provide Salman Ali Agha with extra motivation or did they prove to be a distraction?
Coach: He isn't the type of character who needs extra motivation to perform. He spoke very clearly about it after the last match. There was a lot of "hoo-ha" and noise out in the middle, and I think he realized he played a part in that environment. However, he was fiercely determined today—as was the entire squad—to deliver a performance. It resulted in a really fine hundred. I also thought Tanzid Hasan Tamim played beautifully in the first innings, and Salman Agha was exceptional in the second. We witnessed two very high-caliber innings today.
Interviewer: Shaheen has captained the last two series wins at home, but this series ended in a loss. Given Pakistan's early exit from the World Cup and now this series defeat, how concerned are you about the bigger picture?
Coach: We have to remember this was essentially a new team. We made significant progress in those two home series wins under Shaheen’s leadership but for this tour, we viewed it as a specific opportunity to evaluate our youth. There are many positive signs to take away. While the overall result is a series loss, the development of these younger players is a crucial step in rebuilding the ODI squad.
Interviewer: Can you comment on the opposition's batting? How difficult was it to contain them?
Coach: He was relentless. If we missed our mark even slightly, he capitalized. When we bowled too straight, he picked us off; if we went wide, he punished us through the offside. He’s got a very effective slog-sweep against the spin and uses the depth of the crease well. He also showed great mental toughness by batting through adversity and cramps. It was a fine innings that set them up with a very competitive total.
Interviewer: What are your thoughts on Shaheen’s captaincy throughout this series?
Coach: I think he’s done a great job. Leading a side full of youngsters isn't easy; you’re essentially learning about your players' strengths on the fly. Shaheen remained consistently positive. When the energy of the group dipped, he was the one to lift them back up. Tactically, I thought he was quite smart. On a personal level, I also think he bowled as well as he has in a long time from a length perspective. All in all, he’s had a very solid series.
Interviewer: You must be pleased with the bowling performance in the death overs?
Coach: Definitely. To be fair, I was pleased with the way we bowled the final 35 overs. We were a bit untidy in the first 15, but we pulled the game back nicely after that. In the last 10 overs, we used pace changes effectively and found a bit of reverse swing to keep the target within reach. If they had reached 320, the game probably would have been beyond us. There are good signs there from both the veterans and the youngsters.
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