Table of Contents
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are reportedly ready to continue with Mike Hesson as the Pakistan National Cricket Team’s interim Test head coach, with the New Zealander expected to remain in charge until the end of the current World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has reportedly agreed to extend Mike Hesson’s responsibility, and the former RCB head coach has also accepted the arrangement. Read Also: Babar Azam breaks silence on Mohammad Yousuf offering help on social media.
Mike Hesson to remain Pakistan's Test coach
Mike Hesson was initially appointed as Pakistan's interim Test coach during their challenging tour of England two months ago. However, the white-ball head coach is now set to continue, with next year's Test series against New Zealand also expected to take place under his guidance.
According to a report by news agency PTI, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Hesson have already informed the players about the decision. The former New Zealand coach joined the Pakistan national cricket team in May 2025 as the head coach of the white-ball teams.
The source revealed, “Hesson will also be interim head coach for next year’s Test series against New Zealand. The board and head coach have both conveyed this to the players as well.”
His responsibilities increased after Sarfaraz Ahmed was removed from the position of Test head coach midway through the England tour. Since then, Hesson has been handling the red-ball team's coaching duties alongside his original white-ball job.
PCB to take big call on Mike Hesson's future after 2027 ICC ODI World Cup
However, Hesson’s long-term future with Pakistan cricket is still uncertain. The PCB is expected to review his position after next year's ICC ODI World Cup 2027, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia.
The board will also decide on the appointment of a permanent Test head coach for the next ICC World Test Championship (WTC) cycle after the tournament. Until then, Hesson is likely to continue handling Pakistan's Test team.
The source added, “Hesson’s association with Pakistan cricket will be reviewed after next year’s World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. It will also then be decided who will be the head coach of the Test side for the next cycle of the World Test Championship.”
Read Also: Watch: India-Pakistan no-handshake row continues as Lakshya Raichandani snubs Farhan Yousaf.
Mike Hesson's increasing control raises eyebrows as Babar Azam reveals his role
Meanwhile, Mike Hesson's increasing influence in Pakistan cricket has become a major talking point. There have been questions about how much authority the head coach has over team selection and other important decisions.
Hesson's power has once again come into the spotlight on Sunday when Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam admitted that he does not take part in selection decisions. He made it clear that the team management and selection committee are responsible for picking the squad, while his job is to get the best out of the 15-16 players made available to him.
Hesson also reportedly shares a close relationship with PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The PCB chief reportedly has strong faith in the New Zealander's knowledge and decision-making abilities. While the PCB is happy with Hesson handling multiple responsibilities, his growing control over Pakistan has raised questions among several members of the cricket fraternity.
