LAHORE, Pakistan – Web Desk: Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has expressed strong support for the new central contract system introduced by the Pakistan Cricket Board, saying it will prove highly beneficial for the players .
In an exclusive interview with Express, Hesson explained that the new structure allows players to focus on specific formats where they can excel, rather than trying to master all three formats simultaneously .
“The new central contracts enable players to concentrate on the format they want to play and perform better in,” Hesson said. “Often, players cannot give proper attention to formats where they are less effective. I am hopeful these contracts will help them focus in the right direction.”
Regarding the ongoing white-ball camp in Lahore, Hesson reported positive progress. “We’ve had the opportunity to see several players we haven’t spent much time with before. We’re getting to know them better and assessing their potential for the future,” he said. “Initially, our focus was on injury prevention and fitness. Since last week, we’ve started working on skill development.” He particularly praised young pacer Abdul Subhan, who impressed in Under-19 cricket: “He’s a tall bowler with good line and length. As he gets stronger, his pace will increase. We look forward to his development.”
World Cup Preparations: Hesson confirmed that a domestic tournament featuring the country’s top 50 white-ball players will begin in August to aid preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup, scheduled to take place in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia . “We’re also trying to arrange triangular series alongside ODI series. Playing in Zimbabwe will give us experience of World Cup conditions,” he said.
Performance Review: Reflecting on recent ICC events, Hesson noted improvement: “In the last four events, we couldn’t get past the group stage in three. But in the most recent T20 World Cup, we advanced from the group stage. Unfortunately, the match against New Zealand was washed out, we beat Sri Lanka, and lost a close contest to England. We were very close to the semifinals but missed crucial opportunities.”
On India: Hesson acknowledged India’s dominance in white-ball cricket. “India is currently the best white-ball team in the world and achieving consistent success. It’s not just Pakistan; other major teams also struggle against them,” he said.
Captaincy: Hesson praised Shaheen Shah Afridi’s ODI captaincy: “He’s done a good job. Captaining as a fast bowler is challenging, but he’s performed well. Under his leadership, we’ve won three out of four series, including victories against strong teams.” Regarding Salman Ali Agha’s removal from T20 captaincy, he said, “I’ve learned quickly in Pakistan not to react to rumors.”
On Babar Azam: “Babar performed excellently in the PSL and scored well. He has the ability to adapt to different conditions, but competition in the team is tough,” Hesson said.
Power-Hitters and Wicketkeepers: Hesson identified several power-hitters in the squad: “We have Abdul Samad, Farhan Yousuf, Haider Ali, and Usman Khan. Shadab Khan is excellent as a finisher. We need players who can perform consistently at the international level.” He also praised young wicketkeepers Ghazi Ghori and Ruhail Nazir as impressive prospects, alongside Usman Khan who provides an aggressive batting option.
Bowling Workload: On managing fast bowlers, Hesson emphasized the importance of workload management: “No player can bowl fast all year round. We should use them in short, aggressive spells rather than overburdening them. There’s no benefit in using them merely as stock bowlers.
