‘I’d be open to it’: Mike Hesson previews Pakistan Test role as Shaheen Afridi returns the red ball

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson raises his hand as he addresses the team on Wednesday. (AP photo) Mike Hesson has opened the door to a permanent role as Pakistan’s Test coach after starting in the third Test in the team’s 0-3 series against England, while Shaheen Shah Afridi has made his own intentions clear by declaring that red-ball cricket remains his “first priority”.Hesson, who was in charge of the Pakistan Test side on an interim basis after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) removed Sarfaraz Ahmed following the defeat at Lord’s, admitted he would be interested in continuing in the red-ball set-up.“I would definitely be open to it,” Hesson said in the postgame press conference.The New Zealander initially made it clear that his Test coaching assignment was temporary. But after Pakistan’s eight-wicket defeat at Edgbaston wrapped up England’s 3-0 series, Hesson suggested he saw enough potential in the team to consider taking charge permanently.

Hesson sees talent in Pakistan’s Test setup

Hesson said Pakistan had enough capability within its Test system to make progress, although he acknowledged that rebuilding the side would take time and direction.“I love Test cricket and there is enough talent around the system in Pakistan so if we give some good direction we can take some steps forward. It won’t happen in one or two matches but there is a certain skill that I would definitely consider,” he said.However, Hesson stressed that any decision on his future would concern the PCB and the selectors. His immediate focus remains Pakistan’s white-ball commitments, particularly the Asian Games.“I haven’t even considered (the job offer) at this stage. The Asian Games comes a week after I come back. That’s my main target in terms of the white ball. When that arrives, I’m sure we’ll have some discussions about the future Test team. That’s the discussion I’ll have with the selectors,” he said.Pakistan’s Test campaign ended in disappointment despite a spirited second-innings fightback.

Afridi makes the priority of the red ball clear

As Pakistan look to rebuild their Test side, Afridi’s return to first-class cricket could provide a significant boost. The left-arm pacer appeared in the President’s Trophy on Saturday, making his first red-ball domestic appearance since 2019.“Red-ball cricket is always my first priority,” Afridi said, according to the ICC website.“I’ve always liked it. I haven’t had enough time to play because of international cricket, but I haven’t played much cricket in the last few months. So this is an opportunity to play red-ball cricket,” he added.Afridi, who has 126 wickets in 34 Tests, was left out of Pakistan’s squads for the tour of the West Indies and England. He said that returning to cricket in the longer format will help him hone his rhythm and confidence.“I learned a lot from my elder brother Riaz Afridi because he played a lot of first-class cricket,” he said. “In the longer format, the more time you spend on the ground (the better) for your confidence and fine-tuning your line and length.”

Shaheen Afridi

“When you are free you should play domestic cricket”

Afridi also acknowledged the difficulty of switching between formats after spending much of his career in an intense international programme.“I haven’t played red-ball cricket for the last few months. I used to play red-ball cricket non-stop,” he said.“If you are playing international cricket, coming back to domestic cricket can be challenging. Because you have played international cricket consistently in all three formats, it keeps you busy. When you have time off, you should be playing domestic cricket.”The skipper said he will not change his approach to the ball in first-class cricket.“I will try to play the same way in first-class cricket as in Test cricket,” Afridi said.