Pakistan legend questions Hesson's credentials as coach after disastrous loss against WI: 'Don’t know what qualities...'

Pace legend Shoaib Akhtar questioned Mike Hesson’s credentials as a white-ball coach after Pakistan suffered a humiliating loss at the hands of West Indies on Tuesday, losing the three-match ODI series 1-2 as a result.

After winning the T20I leg of the tour of the Caribbean 2-1 under Salman Agha’s leadership, the Mohammed Rizwan-led side went 1-0 up in the three-match rubber, only for the hosts to fight back with a spirited chase and level the series.

Pakistan, however, suffered their first ODI series loss against West indies in 34 years after getting bundled out for a paltry 92 while chasing a challenging target of 295, thanks to Shai Hope’s unbeaten 120 and pacer Jayden Seales’ 6/18.

More from First Cricket

Former New Zealand coach who defeated India in WTC final appointed Andhra Pradesh head coach for Ranji Trophy Sri Lanka crush Bangladesh by six wickets to record commanding win in Asia Cup 2025

‘Be thankful Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc weren’t here’: Akhtar

Akhtar, best known for being the fastest bowler in the history of the game, slammed Hesson for his “bad policies” that left the Pakistani players exposed on a seaming track.

“Mike Hesson is a good T20 coach, but I don’t know what qualities he has for ODIs. In this format, if you don’t play quality players, this is what will happen. Unless you field established all-rounders, batters, bowlers, and spinners, you won’t get a complete 50 overs. You can’t just scrape by in this format,” he added.

“This is the result of bad policies, not the players’ fault. Your players will always be exposed on seaming tracks. Now this rebuilding process has been given a new name, making a combination. Be thankful Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc weren’t here. Wherever such conditions exist, our players will be exposed,” the 50-year-old added.

Impact Shorts

More Shorts

'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report

PCB bans players from WCL over India-Pakistan match controversy

Hesson had joined Pakistan as their white-ball coach in May after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) decided against continuing with Aaqib Javed, who had served as interim coach across formats until the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year.

Also Read | 'Mike Hesson should not act as Pakistan cricket's father': Ex-Pak cricketer slams NZ coach amid poor results

Hesson had previously coached the New Zealand team for six years from 2012 to 2018, helping the Black Caps come out of a slump early in his tenure and helping them finish runner-up in the 2015 ICC World Cup, which the Kiwis had co-hosted with Australia.