Latest news with #CricketPakistan
News18
5 days ago
- Sport
- News18
Shoaib Akhtar Slams PAK Head Coach Mike Hesson: 'Don't Know What Qualities He Has...'
Last Updated: Hesson was appointed as the head coach of Pakistan's white-ball (ODI and T20I) teams on May 13, 2025. Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat by 202 runs against the West Indies in the third and final ODI of the bilateral series on Tuesday (August 12). In the match played at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, the Pakistani could only manage to score 92 runs in reply to the 295-run target set by Shai Hope & Co. Pakistan's flop show in the series decider invited sharp criticism for their players from former greats, and former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar even slammed the team's head coach, Mike Hesson. According to Akhtar, who dismissed 247 batters in 163 ODIs, Hesson is a good T20 match, but he doesn't know what qualities he has for ODIs. 'Mike Hesson is a good T20 coach, but I don't know what qualities he has for ODIs. In this format, if you don't play quality players, this is what will happen," Akhtar was quoted as saying by Cricket Pakistan. 'Unless you field established all-rounders, batters, bowlers, and spinners, you won't get a complete 50 overs. You can't just scrape by in this format," he added. 'This is the result of bad policies, not the players' fault. Your players will always be exposed on seaming tracks. Now this rebuilding process has been given a new name, making a combination," he remarked. In the third ODI, 23-year-old fast bowler Jayden Seales picked up six wickets for 18 runs in 7.2 overs. He is the first cricketer from the West Indies and overall the third bowler in the world after Thisara Perera of Sri Lanka and South Africa's Dale Steyn to take a six-wicket haul against the Pakistani team in the 50-over format of the game. The figures of 6 for 18 by Seales are the best ever by any player in ODIs against the Pakistani team. Apart from Seales, Hope also impressed with his batting in the third ODI. The right-handed wicketkeeper-batter scored 120 runs from just 95 balls for the hosts. Under his leadership, for the first time in 50 years, the West Indies managed to get the better of Pakistan by more than 200 runs in an ODI match, and he also became the first West Indies captain in 34 years to win a bilateral ODI series against the Men in Green. view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Express Tribune
10-07-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Hasan eyes Asia Cup, T20 World Cup
Pakistan fast bowler Hasan Ali has expressed his views about his potential participation in the upcoming Asia Cup and T20 World Cup 2026. In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, the pacer shared that his selection will depend entirely on his performance in the coming months. Talking about the importance of delivering strong performances, Hasan said,"If I perform well, the team management will definitely give me a chance. Representing Pakistan is an honour for me. I always try to give 110 percent and aim to do something for the country and the fans." Reflecting on his international journey, Hasan opened up about the ups and downs he has faced over the years. "Since my international debut on August 18, 2016, I have experienced many ups and downs over the course of my nine-year career, but I never let my love and passion for cricket weaken. I've always learned that each morning brings new hope, and as long as your hands and feet are functional, you should keep working hard," he added. Despite being a regular part of discussions around Pakistan's fast bowling depth, Hasan Ali has not been included in the squad for the upcoming T20I series against Bangladesh. According to sources his exclusion is due to county commitments in England. The pacer went on to praise former skipper Sarfaraz Ahmed for his leadership, achievements, and strong bond with the team. Speaking about Sarfaraz's influence and leadership qualities, Hasan said, "Sarfaraz is closest to our hearts. He led us to victory in the Champions Trophy, kept the team united, and took us all along with him. Spending time with him was a learning experience." Hasan also spoke about another teammate, highlighting his captaincy style. "Similarly, Shadab Khan is an aggressive captain," he added. Sarfaraz Ahmed captained Pakistan to several memorable wins, including the 2017 ICC Champions Trophy triumph, and remains a respected figure among current and former players. Under his captaincy, Pakistan also won 11 consecutive T20I series. He opened up about the reason behind his famous phrase "King kar lay ga," which became popular among fans and media. The pacer shared the emotional connection behind those words and praised Babar Azam for his consistency and class. Speaking about the phrase, Hasan said, "The phrase 'King kar lay ga' (King will do it) came not just from my mouth, but from my heart." He went on to praise Babar Azam's talent and leadership qualities, calling him one of the best batters of this era. "Babar has proven with his performance and attitude that he is the best batter of this era. We all gave him the title of 'King'. Although he unfortunately couldn't win the trophy, he is still considered among Pakistan's best captains," Hasan said. Explaining his famous quote further, Hasan added, "That line came straight from the heart, not just the tongue. Legendary players like Virat Kohli, Kane Williamson, Steve Smith, and Joe Root praise his batting. If you ask people whether Babar's cover drive is better or Kohli's, most would choose Babar." He recalled a painful moment in his cricket career that he says will stay with him forever. Hasan opened up about the dropped catch during the 2021 T20 World Cup semi-final against Australia — a moment he believes changed the course of the match and possibly the tournament. Speaking about that incident, Hasan said, "Dropping that catch in the World Cup is a moment that will stay with me forever." He admitted that the catch should have been taken and accepted that it might have cost Pakistan a place in the final. "If I had taken that catch, maybe we would have won the match and then possibly lifted the trophy too. That label - that I dropped that catch - will always stay with me," he said. Hasan also spoke about how the reaction from fans affected him. "I deeply respect my fans, whether they remember me with kind words or harsh ones — all are respectable to me. True fans always stood by me. When I dropped that catch, many people turned their backs on me, but there were also some who raised their voice in my support, defended me on social media, and spoke for me on TV. I thank all of them," he added. Recalling a painful incident that happened after the dropped catch, he said, "Once, when I was going to the airport, someone looked at my face and hands and sarcastically asked, 'Are these the same hands that dropped the catch?' I still remember many such moments."
NDTV
14-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
'PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Could Not Even...': Ex-Pakistan Coach Jason Gillespie's Harsh Dig
Former Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has taken a dig at Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi for the latter's absence from a crucial team-building session for the senior men's cricket team. The session was named "Connection Camp". Gillespie has alleged that while he and then white-ball coach of the team, Gary Kirsten, flew from Australia and South Africa, respectively, to be in person for the session, Naqvi got connected online. "Gary came up with this great idea of a connection camp. Everyone in Pakistan cricket basically shared their experiences in that meeting. I flew in from Australia, Gary flew in from South Africa, the Chairman Mohsin Naqvi dialed in Zoom," Gillespie told The Howie Games podcast, as quoted by Cricket Pakistan. "He is based in Lahore, but he did not come, while Gary came in from Africa. We both felt that the Chairman could not even drive 20 minutes to come here - that was a bit unusual," he added. The connection camp was organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board on September 23, 2024. It was done with an aim to improve communication, bonding, and performance in the national team. Senior players like Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Rizwan, Saim Ayub, Salman Ali Agha, Saud Shakeel, Shadab Khan, and Shan Masood were part of the session. Notably, Gillespie and Gary Kirsten were appointed as the red-ball and white-ball head coaches of Pakistan cricket team in April last year on two-year contracts, but seven-eight months down the line, they resigned citing issues with the PCB over their authority. In a major development regarding its men's selection committee, the PCB recently confirmed that four out of the five members will continue in their roles. The panel will still include Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Aaqib Javed, and former umpire Aleem Dar, as per ESPNcricinfo. The only adjustment involves Usman Hashmi, who has been appointed as the new data analyst, replacing Hassan Cheema. However, unlike Cheema, Hashmi will not hold voting rights and will serve purely in the selection committee. Reports of a complete overhaul had gained momentum recently, prompting the PCB to release an official statement refuting such reports. Interestingly, the statement also hinted at a more inclusive approach moving forward--suggesting that both the head coach and the captain of each format would now be consulted in the team selection process. (With agency inputs)
Express Tribune
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Hesson addresses plans for Babar, Rizwan
Mike Hesson, the newly appointed head coach of Pakistan's white-ball team and current Islamabad United coach, has shared his strategic approach for shaping the national side. With Pakistan's white-ball performances under increasing scrutiny, the future of experienced campaigners like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan has been a hot topic. Hesson addressed how he plans to structure the team moving forward and whether senior players still have a central role. In an exclusive interview with Cricket Pakistan, Hesson made it clear that selections will be based on clearly defined team roles, rather than age or past achievements. Cricket balls "The plans will be based around what roles we want to play, the style of cricket that we want," Mike said. "Once we nail down the way we want to play, there will obviously be significant or specific roles around that, and then we will start to populate those roles with players we believe can fulfil them," he added. Hesson's comments point toward a performance and role-driven selection process, where no one is guaranteed a place based solely on reputation. While that doesn't rule out the likes of Babar and Rizwan, it puts the focus squarely on how well a player fits into the team's tactical framework. As Pakistan aims to rebuild its white-ball side ahead of Asia Cup and T20 World Cup, Hesson's structured and merit-based approach could mark a new beginningone where experienced names must adapt or make way for the next generation.
Express Tribune
19-05-2025
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Qasim backs Shan as Test captain
Top officials in the board are considering to remove Shan Masood from Test captaincy. Photo: AFP Former Pakistan Test spinner Iqbal Qasim has questioned Saud Shakeel's credibility as a replacement for Shan Masood as Test captain, urging that recent Pakistan Test losses shouldn't be blamed solely on Masood. During a recent interview to Cricket Pakistan, the former legend criticised the frequent captaincy changes in Pakistan cricket, pointing out that players are often appointed as captains only to be replaced shortly after. Addressing recent demands to replace Shan with Saud as the red-ball captain, he questioned whether such a change would guarantee improved results. "If Saud Shakeel is handed the captaincy instead of Shan Masood, what assurance do we have that he will lead the team to victories? How many times has he captained a team in his career?" Qasim remarked. "If the captain is replaced, should we also consider dropping other players?" he added. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had appointed Shan Masood as an experimental captain, and according to Qasim, Masood has gradually been growing into the role. He argued that changing the captain now is unlikely to yield significant improvements. "If Saud Shakeel takes over, he will likely face the same challenges as Shan Masood," Qasim stated. "In my opinion, a change in captaincy will not have a major impact on the team's performance." On Babar Azam, Qasim praised the former Pakistan captain as a talented and consistent player but acknowledged that every batsman experiences form fluctuations. "Babar Azam is a talented player, but there comes a time when every batter's form dips," he said. "At this point, Babar will have to decide whether he wants to continue in T20I cricket. If he is committed to this format, he will need to adapt to its demands. Otherwise, he has the potential to play Test and ODI cricket for many more years." The 71-year-old concluded by highlighting the need to support Babar Azam, calling him a national asset. "Pakistan has invested heavily in Babar Azam. It is our collective responsibility to encourage him, not discourage him with criticism," he added. It is pertinent to mention that Shan Masood was appointed Pakistan's Test captain in November 2023 but has struggled to deliver consistent results. Under his leadership, Pakistan played 12 Tests, winning only three while losing nine. The team's performance in the ICC World Test Championship (WTC) 202325 was disappointing, finishing ninth on the points table. Pakistan suffered series whitewashes against Australia, Bangladesh, and South Africa, managing only two series wins against Sri Lanka and England, and a drawn series against the West Indies. Shan's inability to consistently perform and make impactful tactical decisions has raised concerns among selectors and team management. In contrast, Saud Shakeel has emerged as one of Pakistan's most reliable Test batsmen, boasting an average above 50 since his debut. His composure and consistency have impressed, qualities highly valued by the PCB for Pakistan's red-ball future. His leadership skills were on display in the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, where he captained the Quetta Gladiators to top the points table with six wins in nine matches, securing a playoff berth. The possible captaincy change is viewed as part of a broader team reset following Pakistan's underwhelming WTC campaign. For the unversed, Pakistan's next Test series is scheduled for October 2025, when South Africa will tour the country for two Tests, three ODIs, and three T20Is.
