Pakistan coach Mike Hesson breaks silence on England mid-series shock, says ‘I really don’t know what happened’

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson. (PTI photo) Pakistan interim Red-ball coach Mike Hesson has distanced himself from the decision to release seven players from the Test squad ahead of the third and final Test against England, saying three senior players had already been sent home before he was asked to take charge.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping changes after the visitors suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests. England won the series opener by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley before securing a 194-run victory at Lord’s to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were released from the squad, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were relieved of their duties. Hesson was subsequently put in charge of the Test side for the clash at Edgbaston, which starts on 9 September.

Hesson clears the air on Rizwan, Agha and Imam

Speaking to the media in Birmingham on Friday, Hesson said he played no part in the decision to release Rizwan, Agha and Imam, insisting the trio had already left the team when he was approached to manage the Test squad.“When they (Pakistan Cricket Board) told me if I could handle the side for the final Test, those three players (Rizwan, Agha and Imam) had already been released from the team and (were) on their way home. So I really don’t know what happened there,” Hesson said.While he made it clear he was not involved in the decisions regarding the three senior players, Hesson acknowledged he had a role in reshaping the rest of the squad.“I was involved in releasing the rest of the players and bringing in some new players,” he said.Hesson explained that he had recently returned from Japan following his involvement with Pakistan’s white-ball set-up when the PCB asked him to take over the red-ball side.“We already had a white-ball camp in Lahore and I had just returned from Japan for the Asian Games when I was asked if I could manage the red-ball team,” he added.

Hesson wants more variety in the bowling attack

With Pakistan already out of contention for the Test series, Hesson said his priority was to build a more balanced team for the final match.“I have decided to make some changes in the team to get some balance in the team and I have put emphasis on a bowling attack which is diverse and where we have some bowling all-rounders,” he said.The improved squad includes Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal along with uncapped players Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.