Mohsin Naqvi’s man Mike Hesson will remain PAK Test coach until the end of the 2025-27 WTC cycle

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson will continue as interim head coach of the national red-ball team until the completion of the current ICC Test World Cup cycle. Hesson took over interim charge of the Test side during the team’s disastrous tour of England two months agoand a reliable Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source said he had agreed to continue in the role until the end of the cycle.

“Hesson will also be the interim head coach for next year’s Test series against New Zealand. The board and the head coach have also told the players that,” the source said.

Hesson initially joined the Pakistan team as their head white-ball coach in May 2025 and subsequently took on an interim red-ball role after his predecessor Sarfaraz Ahmed was sacked midway through the England tour.

“Hesson’s association with Pakistan cricket will be reviewed after the next World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. After that, it will also be decided who will be the head coach of the Test side for the next cycle of the World Test Championship,” the source added.

Hesson has emerged as a polarizing figure in Pakistan cricket, with the cricketing fraternity divided over the considerable powers the PCB gives him in selection and other cricketing matters.

Even Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam on Sunday admitted that he had no role in the selection matters which were handled by the team management and the selection committee. He said his job was to get the best out of the 15-16 players he was given.

The source said it is true that Hesson was very close to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who trusted him in all cricketing decisions. However, several former players and critics questioned Hesson’s penchant for making frequent changes of teams and players across formats.

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