Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson is under heavy scrutiny after the team’s early exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The team once again failed to reach the semi-finals and many former players and experts are now questioning the decisions taken by the coaching staff.
The Men in Green have been eliminated from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 after failing to register a big win over Sri Lanka after New Zealand’s game in the Super 8 round was washed out due to rain. As a result, the Kiwis reached the semi-finals due to better net run rate. Pakistan has not been able to qualify for the semi-finals since 2022.
Basit Ali claims PCB support for Mike Hesson is waning
Now, former Pakistan batsman Basit Ali claims that Mike Hesson is no longer getting strong support inside the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). He felt that the PCB’s perception of Hesson had changed after Pakistan’s disappointing T20 World Cup 2026 campaign, and the coach no longer had the same control over team affairs as before.
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Basit Ali said in the ‘Game Plan’ YouTube show, “Mike Hesson is not in his good books. I am not talking about Mohsin Naqvi. I am talking about the people who advise Naqvi. Hesson is not in his good books. The decision has to be taken by the chairman.”
He said, “The winds which were blowing in Mike Hesson’s favor have now changed. Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed will never work under Mike Hesson. I am ready to put it in writing. Hesson can now forget that he will get a chance to choose 15 members of the team.”
Why was Hesson made the coach?
The former national selector also questioned Hesson’s selection as head coach, as there were many better options than him, and warned that if Pakistan lost the ODI series decider against Bangladesh, things could become challenging for the coach.
Basit said, “Why was he made the coach? You made him the coach on the basis of his performance in the Pakistan Super League. Anyway, the third and last ODI against Bangladesh is very important for Hesson.”
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Aaqib Javed’s claims have put Mike Hesson under pressure
The debate intensified when selector Aaqib Javed hinted that the selection committee was not solely responsible for the team selected for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. His comments revealed that several important decisions had been taken by Hesson, which now put him under direct pressure.
Adding fuel to the fire, former captains Misbah-ul-Haq and Sarfaraz Ahmed were also included in the selection committee, as many believe that these experienced guys will play a big role in the team selection, as their recent performances have exposed many weaknesses in the team.
Recently, former Pakistan stars Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Hafeez, Sana Mir, Umar Gul and Saqlain Mushtaq have expressed concerns about the coaching setup. Pakistan managed to win the second ODI to level the series, but will need to win the series in Bangladesh to silence its critics.
