Shoaib Akhtar: “Mike Hesson is a good T20 coach, but I don’t know what qualities he has for ODIs”
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Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has questioned what qualities white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has when it comes to ODIs.
His comments come after the men in green lost their ODI series against the West Indies 2-1.
Akhtar, who holds the record for the fastest ball bowled at 161.3 kph (100.2 mph), stressed the need to “play quality players” or Pakistan will find themselves in this situation again in the future.
He added that the national players should consider themselves fortunate not to have faced a more difficult bowling attack, like that of Australia’s, which consists of world-class speedsters like Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins.
“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.
“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.
“Be thankful Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc weren’t here. Wherever such conditions exist, our players will be exposed.”
After their West Indies tour, Pakistan faced the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Afghanistan in a T20I tri-series in Sharjah, which they won.
They are now playing in the 2025 Asia Cup, which is taking place in the UAE.
The men in green started off with a 93-run win over Oman before losing to India by seven wickets.
They bounced back with a 41-run win over the UAE, which earned them a spot in the Super Four stage.
Pakistan’s next match will be against India on September 21 in Dubai.
Pakistan squad for UAE T20I tri-series and 2025 Asia Cup: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem