Mike Hesson labels Mirpur pitch "unacceptable" after Pakistan's defeat
While Hesson admitted that Pakistan's batters had misread the conditions, he emphasised that the pitch did not meet the standards expected for international play. "It is not ideal for anybody," he said.
"Teams are preparing for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, and this pitch is simply not acceptable," Hesson continued.
Pakistan's collapse was swift, with the team slipping to 46 for 5 by the eighth over. Many of the batters fell while attempting high-risk shots, and Pakistan's cause was further hindered by three run-outs.
Despite a bright start from Fakhar Zaman, who top-scored with 44 off 34 balls, Pakistan were eventually bowled out in 19.3 overs.
Hesson reflected on the team's struggles: "Fakhar Zaman played a few good shots, which gave us a false impression of how the surface was playing. We didn't adjust well in the middle overs and made poor decisions. As the ball started to bounce and nip through, we didn't recognise the increased difficulty of playing high-risk shots. The run-outs didn't help either."
However, Bangladesh's opener, Parvez Hossain Emon, disagreed with Hesson's assessment, pointing to his team's dominant seven-wicket victory.
"We didn't feel it was a bad pitch, as we chased the target down in less than 16 overs," Emon said. "We could have scored 150-160 runs if we batted the full 20 overs. It may be that Pakistan couldn't adjust to the pitch as well as we did. We adapted quickly, which was part of our strategy."
Hesson, though, felt such surfaces would not aid Bangladesh's preparations for tougher conditions abroad. "Good cricket wickets are needed to develop cricketers," he said.
"While there were better wickets in the BPL, this pitch doesn't meet the standard required for international cricket. It's challenging to bat first when you're unsure of what score is good enough," he added.
Despite the pitch's challenges, Hesson acknowledged that his team still needed to perform better, regardless of the surface.
"We'll look at it as a team," he added.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Tharanga plots T20 overhaul for Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka's chairman of selectors Upul Tharanga is determined to induct young blood in the team with an eye on the T20 World Cup. PHOTO: AFP Sri Lanka's Chairman of Selectors, Upul Tharanga, has vowed to overhaul the national T20 side after a humbling 2-1 series defeat to Bangladesh — their first ever against the neighbours in the shortest format. With the next ICC Men's T20 World Cup on home soil just over a year away, Tharanga is pushing for urgent course correction. Tharanga admitted in an interview with Telecom Asia Sport ( "We've simply been too inconsistent with the bat," "We've tried different combinations, but it's time to bring in fresh blood. Sri Lanka's recent collapse in Dambulla, where they were bundled out for just 94 — their lowest T20 total at home — was followed by a limp 132 in the series decider in Colombo. It left fans stunned and exposed the chronic frailties in the middle order, especially under pressure. Tharanga, a former captain and World Cup winner, has overseen commendable progress in Tests and ODIs since taking over as chief selector. But in T20Is, he concedes the team is lagging. With India and Sri Lanka co-hosting the marquee event in 2026, he knows time is slipping. Fresh Faces, New Ideas Among the names knocking on the door are Nuwanidu Fernando and Pawan Rathnayake — two domestic standouts who may soon get their big break. Tharanga said They've earned their chances. We need energy, hunger, and composure — especially in the middle overs. One player already in the system who could be handed greater responsibility is Janith Liyanage. A consistent performer in ODIs at number six, Liyanage is now being assessed for a similar role in T20s. "He's not a power-hitter, but he reads the game well," said Tharanga. "He adds value as a fielder and a calm presence when things get tense." Bowling Balance and Selection Headaches With a deep pace pool at their disposal, Sri Lanka faces a different challenge: who to leave out. Only two frontline pacers are likely to be picked in the playing XI, making it tough for express bowlers like Matheesha Pathirana and Dushmantha Chameera to feature regularly. Tharanga hinted at a rotation policy to both preserve fitness and inject variety. "We have options, but balance is key. You can't pick everyone, so we need to be smart about who plays when." Perhaps the most glaring issue is Sri Lanka's lack of firepower with the bat. Unlike other top teams, the islanders still struggle to clear the boundary consistently. Tharanga said: "Even in 2014, when we won the title, we weren't reliant on brute force. It was about smart cricket - rotating strike, finding gaps, reading situations. That's missing now, especially in the middle overs. To address that void, Sri Lanka has brought in renowned English power-hitting coach Julian Wood on a short-term assignment. Wood, a former Hampshire batter, has worked with IPL franchises and international teams, focusing on improving strike rates and power output. "It's a good move," said Tharanga. "The boys must absorb as much as they can. T20 cricket is evolving, and we need to keep up." Road to 2026 Begins Now The run-up to the World Cup offers plenty of opportunities to rebuild. Sri Lanka will face England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe in upcoming series, with the Asia Cup looming and a potential home series against India on the cards next month. "Every series from here on is a platform to experiment, refine and commit to a core group," Tharanga said. "We're not far off - but it will take bold decisions, patience, and a bit of risk. We owe that to our fans."
Express Tribune
a day ago
- Express Tribune
Pak coach Hesson slams Dhaka pitch
Mike Hesson says teams are trying to prepare for the Asia Cup or the (T20) World Cup and It is not acceptable. Photo: AFP/File White-ball head coach of the Pakistan team Mike Hesson has criticised the pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium following his side's defeat in the first T20I against Bangladesh, branding it "unacceptable" for international cricket. Pakistan were bundled out for just 110 runs in 19.3 overs, struggling to adapt to the conditions. Speaking after the match, Hesson admitted his batters misread the surface but expressed concern over its suitability at the international level. "I think (the pitch) is not ideal for anybody," Hesson said. "Teams are trying to prepare for the Asia Cup or the (T20) World Cup. It is not acceptable. It is still no excuse for some of the decisions we made with the bat. But this pitch is not up to international standards," he added. The Men in Green found themselves in deep trouble early, slumping to 46 for 5 by the eighth over. Several batters fell attempting big shots, and three run-outs further derailed their innings. "We got off to a little bit of a flyer with Fakhar Zaman playing a few aggressive shots, which gave us a false indication of how the pitch was behaving," he explained. "We didn't help ourselves in the middle overs with poor shot selection. When the ball started to nip through and bounce steeply, we failed to assess the risk. A couple of run-outs didn't help either," he further stated. Bangladesh opener Parvez Hossain Emon, who struck a match-winning half-century, disagreed with Hesson's assessment. "We didn't feel (it was a bad pitch) as we chased it down in less than 16 overs," Emon said. "We could have scored 150-160 runs if we batted the full 20 overs. It may be so that they couldn't adjust to the pitch. We adjusted better than them. The Dhaka pitch usually benefits the bowlers. We tried to assess the wicket quickly. It was our first plan," he added. Despite the result, Hesson remained firm in his criticism of the surface, warning that such pitches do little to help either side prepare for tougher international assignments. "You need good cricket wickets to develop cricketers. There was some good wickets during the BPL, to be fair. It is not up to the standard when international cricket is being played," he said. "I don't think it helps them when they leave Bangladesh. But I think also batting first in these situations is challenging. When you aren't quite sure whether 100 or 130 or 150 is good enough. I don't think (the pitch) is good for anybody. It still doesn't take away the fact that you have to perform better in any surface. We will look at it as a team," he concluded. It is pertinent to mention that the hosts currently lead the three-match series 1-0, with the second T20I set to be played at the same venue on Tuesday. Disappointed Akhtar Former Pakistan pace maestro Shoaib Akhtar has expressed his disappointment following the national team's underwhelming performance in the first T20I against Bangladesh, which ended in a low-scoring defeat on Sunday at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Dhaka. Appearing on a local show, Akhtar strongly criticised the team's approach and mindset, questioning their inability to capitalise on promising starts and adapt tactically during crucial moments. "Pakistan is still stuck in an era where they fail to capitalise on a good start. Apart from Fakhar [Zaman], there was no resistance," Akhtar lamented. "We felt the absence of Shaheen [Afridi] and Naseem [Shah] - I mean, they are specialist T20 bowlers and could have turned the game in our favour. But, as you know, the score was just too low this time, and Bangladesh delivered a clinical and dominant performance," he added.
Express Tribune
2 days ago
- Express Tribune
Mike Hesson labels Mirpur pitch "unacceptable" after Pakistan's defeat
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has criticised the pitch at the Shere Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur, calling it "unacceptable" for international cricket after his side was bowled out for just 110 in the first T20I against Bangladesh. While Hesson admitted that Pakistan's batters had misread the conditions, he emphasised that the pitch did not meet the standards expected for international play. "It is not ideal for anybody," he said. "Teams are preparing for the Asia Cup and the T20 World Cup, and this pitch is simply not acceptable," Hesson continued. Pakistan's collapse was swift, with the team slipping to 46 for 5 by the eighth over. Many of the batters fell while attempting high-risk shots, and Pakistan's cause was further hindered by three run-outs. Despite a bright start from Fakhar Zaman, who top-scored with 44 off 34 balls, Pakistan were eventually bowled out in 19.3 overs. Hesson reflected on the team's struggles: "Fakhar Zaman played a few good shots, which gave us a false impression of how the surface was playing. We didn't adjust well in the middle overs and made poor decisions. As the ball started to bounce and nip through, we didn't recognise the increased difficulty of playing high-risk shots. The run-outs didn't help either." However, Bangladesh's opener, Parvez Hossain Emon, disagreed with Hesson's assessment, pointing to his team's dominant seven-wicket victory. "We didn't feel it was a bad pitch, as we chased the target down in less than 16 overs," Emon said. "We could have scored 150-160 runs if we batted the full 20 overs. It may be that Pakistan couldn't adjust to the pitch as well as we did. We adapted quickly, which was part of our strategy." Hesson, though, felt such surfaces would not aid Bangladesh's preparations for tougher conditions abroad. "Good cricket wickets are needed to develop cricketers," he said. "While there were better wickets in the BPL, this pitch doesn't meet the standard required for international cricket. It's challenging to bat first when you're unsure of what score is good enough," he added. Despite the pitch's challenges, Hesson acknowledged that his team still needed to perform better, regardless of the surface. "We'll look at it as a team," he added.
