[EXCLUSIVE] "Judging middle-order Pakistani players purely by numbers is completely irresponsible": Mike Hesson

[BouncerGuy]

In an era where modern batters strive to dominate from the very first ball, Pakistan's approach to T20 cricket seems archaic. Their top-order batters tend to accumulate runs at a slow pace, often leaving their lower-order with too much to do in a short period of time.

To discuss Pakistan's outdated approach to the game, PakPassion is thrilled to be joined by former New Zealand and current Islamabad United head coach, Mike Hesson. In his first season as head coach, Hesson led Islamabad United to victory in PSL 09.

In his interview with Saj Sadiq, the master coach delved into various issues pertaining to Pakistan cricket, New Zealand cricket, the T20 World Cup, and much more.

The topics he discussed in this interview included:

• New Zealand’s lack of preparation for the T20 World Cup
• The need for a clear game plan in Pakistan cricket
• The importance of creating a team culture in coaching
• Criticism of the PSL and its impact on player development
• The significance of consistent selection and role clarity in India’s success
• Rahul Dravid’s positive influence on Indian cricket
• The challenges faced by coaches in managing divided dressing rooms

Watch full interview here:

 

[FearlessRoar]

He is right the more selectors the more potential for conflict of interest. But I think it can reduce the factor of favoritism.

 

[sweep_shot]

Too many cooks spoil the broth, as they say.

Having 7 selectors is counterproductive.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Too many cooks spoil the broth, as they say.

Having 7 selectors is counterproductive.

May be someone misguided Mr Naqvi with the more the merrier mantra

 

[Shoaib Akhtar 100 MPH]

May be someone misguided Mr Naqvi with the more the merrier mantra

Or maybe he thought giving these ex players jobs would shut them up from criticising him.

 

[MSHKing]

I agree with Mike Hesson. Once you pick a player then you need to groom him irrespective of ups and down. He also rightly pointed out that Pakistan should not have changed the middle order right before the world cup. I dont Understand why did we need to bring in Usman Khan and Azam Khan in this team. We played Salman Ali Agha and also played Niazi at that position. Additionally, Usama Mir was the part of team from last two years and was the highest wicket taker in last PSL, he was dropped to accommodate Shadab. Why did we ignore spinners like Asghar, Mehran, Abrar or Usman Qadir? The whole selection committee needs to be dissolved.

 

[BouncerGuy]

Yes, he is right. Having so many selectors can create a lot of mess. It should be just the chief selector, coach, captain + 1 more member. 4 guys are more than enough who are directly involved with the team.

Moreover, he is also right about changes made up top. They ere playing Saim every game but when the world cup came, he was benched. You prepared him for the World cup I believe to open with Riz but Babar and rizwan ended up opening once again.

Saim was bad and has no real performance, but if he was in the squad to open he should have played.

 

[pratiktc]

Yes, he is right. Having so many selectors can create a lot of mess. It should be just the chief selector, coach, captain + 1 more member. 4 guys are more than enough who are directly involved with the team.

Moreover, he is also right about changes made up top. They ere playing Saim every game but when the world cup came, he was benched. You prepared him for the World cup I believe to open with Riz but Babar and rizwan ended up opening once again.

Saim was bad and has no real performance, but if he was in the squad to open he should have played.

Agree completely. I can understand that Pak saw that pitches weren't 200 wkts and decided to put hitters in middle order instead of top but they messed up in reading pitches. Throughout most tournament pitches hitting in overs 11-20 got harder. They needed a hitter in PP to give push to run rate

 

[Markhor]

Yes, he is right. Having so many selectors can create a lot of mess. It should be just the chief selector, coach, captain + 1 more member. 4 guys are more than enough who are directly involved with the team.

Moreover, he is also right about changes made up top. They ere playing Saim every game but when the world cup came, he was benched. You prepared him for the World cup I believe to open with Riz but Babar and rizwan ended up opening once again.

Saim was bad and has no real performance, but if he was in the squad to open he should have played.

It was a crazy situation. Ideally on a selection panel you'd want:

- Selector who specialises in batting.
- Selector who specialises in bowling.
- Coach
- Captain

And the Head Selector overseeing their work.

 

[BouncerGuy]

It was a crazy situation. Ideally on a selection panel you'd want:

- Selector who specialises in batting.
- Selector who specialises in bowling.
- Coach
- Captain

And the Head Selector overseeing their work.

I think PCB has no idea about these things. They don't have a mind to work these things out.

 

[Saj]

Greed, self interest, big egos, superstar syndrome, politics - this is the current state of many of our players these days.

The guys have won nothing, yet behave as if they are world champions.

Hesson is right to criticise the approach, the stat-padding culture.

 

[Bewal Express]

Greed, self interest, big egos, superstar syndrome, politics - this is the current state of many of our players these days.

The guys have won nothing, yet behave as if they are world champions.

Hesson is right to criticise the approach, the stat-padding culture.

The issue is that if you don't use statistics to make selections and use instinct, you leave yourself open to accusations of favouritism and even corruption.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

The issue is that if you don't use statistics to make selections and use instinct, you leave yourself open to accusations of favouritism and even corruption.

but problem is that we cant only rely on statistics to pick players as most of them fails to perform on international platform after their debut... so in my opinion their techniques and temprament of longer formats must also be analysed before picking them.

 

[Bewal Express]

but problem is that we cant only rely on statistics to pick players as most of them fails to perform on international platform after their debut... so in my opinion their techniques and temprament of longer formats must also be analysed before picking them.

There is a balance that you can strike if you have an eye for talent. It's perhaps the most underrated and most important skill in cricket. Our talent spotters are no such thing, and contrast this with Key, Stokes and Mac and how they selected Shoaib Bashir and our selection of our awful spinners.