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Hesson returns to New Zealand as Pakistan’s home season concludes

White-ball head coach Mike Hesson headed back to New Zealand on Sunday after overseeing a successful home season with the Pakistan men’s cricket team.

The Green Shirts ‘ packed home season ended with a T20I tri-series triumph over Sri Lanka on Saturday.

During the home season, Pakistan played a complete series against South Africa, which included two Test matches, three ODIs, and same number of T20Is.

The Test series ended in a 1-1 stalemate, with Green Shirts emerging victorious in both the ODI and T20I series.

They then faced Sri Lanka in a three-match ODI series, completing a 3-0 before taking on the Islanders and Zimbabwe in the T20I tri-series.

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Notably, Pakistan lost only three matches – one ODI and two T20Is – and won each of the four series.

Nonetheless, Mike Hesson originally hailing from New Zealand, expressed his joy over the Pakistan team’s successful home season in a social media post.

“This is the face of a tired but happy man. Tonight I start my long journey home back to New Zealand for a few weeks’ break. Missing my family and some warm summer weather,” Hesson wrote.

“So delighted to have finished the season with a win, well played boys,” he said.

It is pertinent to mention that the Pakistan cricket team will tour Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series in January.

The series is expected to be played from January 8 to 12, with all three matches scheduled at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.

The upcoming World Cup will be held from February 7 to March 8 in India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan set to play all their matches on Sri Lankan soil under the Hybrid Model.

Tentative schedule of Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka

1st T20I – 8 January 2026, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium

2nd T20I – 10 January 2026, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium

3rd T20I – 12 January 2026, Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium

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Pakistan team undergoes scenario-based practice ahead of Bangladesh series

KARACHI: The Pakistan cricket team engaged in a scenario-based practice session for the forthcoming three-match T20I series against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence on July 20 at the Shere Bangla National Stadium, Dhaka.

The Green shirts are scheduled to play a series against Bangladesh and the West Indies ahead of the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025.

In preparation for a packed cricketing calendar, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has organized a week-long training camp, which will continue till 15 July.

Apart from squad members, five additional players, Babar Azam, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, Shaheen Afridi, and Mohammad Wasim Jr are featuring in the camp.

During today’s practice match, the players were given scenarios in which batters were instructed to adopt an aggressive approach while a different strategy was planned for the middle phase of the innings. The players have also been briefed on the game plan for the final six overs.

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For the unversed, Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh will be the first assignment under the new head coach, Mike Hesson. The opening match is scheduled for July 20, followed by the second T20I on July 22 and the third on July 24.

After wrapping up the Bangladesh tour, the Green Shirts will travel to the United States of America (USA) to face the West Indies in a three-match T20I series in Florida, set to take place from August 1 to 4.

Both sides will then head to Trinidad and Tobago for a three-match ODI series, scheduled to take place between August 8 and 12.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the final T20I and ODI squads for both assignments in the coming days.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:

Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hassan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wk), Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, and Sufyan Moqim

Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I Series Schedule

20 July – First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

22 July – Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

24 July – Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

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Fakhar, Hasan shine as Saim Ayub XI defeat Salman Agha XI in practice match

KARACHI: Fakhar Zaman and Hasan Nawaz starred as Saim Ayub XI outplayed Salman Agha XI by seven wickets in an intra-squad practice match here on Friday.

The match was held at the National Bank Stadium during Pakistan’s third day of training camp in preparation for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh.

Salman Agha XI scored 183-8 while batting first, with Hussain Talat top-scoring with 40. Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, who are not part of the T20I squad, scored 33 and 24 runs respectively, while Salman Agha scored 32

For Saim Ayub XI, pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi and all-rounder Mohammad Wasim Jnr picked up two wickets each. Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed also scalped one wicket.

In reply, Saim Ayub XI successfully chased the 184-run target, losing only three wickets in the process. Fakhar Zaman (51) and Saim Ayub (34) showed good form, while middle-order batter Hasan Nawaz contributed with a solid 57 runs. Mohammad Haris also chipped in with 25 runs.

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For Salman Agha XI, Sufiyan Moqim scalped two wickets and Khushdil Shah took one wicket.

It is noteworthy to mention that, apart from the squad members, five additional players are also part of the training camp. These players include Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

The 15-member Pakistan squad is training for a week before departing for Bangladesh on 16 July.

Both sides will then head to Trinidad and Tobago for a three-match ODI series scheduled between August 8 and 12.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the final T20I and ODI squads for both assignments in the coming days.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:

Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I Series Schedule

20 July – First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

22 July – Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

24 July – Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

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Babar Azam sweats it out in fielding as opening day of training camp concludes

KARACHI: Pakistan’s ace batter Babar Azam went through rigorous fielding drills on day one of the training camp for the upcoming three-match series against Bangladesh.

The opening day of the training camp concluded with players engaging in fielding, bowling, and batting sessions that lasted over four hours.

Head coach Mike Hesson, along with the support staff, closely monitored the fielding activities. Additionally, the coaches provided tips to the batters to help them adapt to Bangladesh’s playing conditions.

During the training, Babar Azam was seen practicing fielding for a considerable amount of time.

The 15-member squad heading to Bangladesh is training at the National Bank Stadium, with the camp set to continue until July 15.

Apart from the squad members, five additional players were also added to the training camp. These players include Babar Azam, Shaheen Afridi, Mohammad Rizwan, Naseem Shah, and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

For the unversed, Pakistan’s tour of Bangladesh will be the first assignment under the new head coach, Mike Hesson. The opening match between both teams is scheduled for July 20, followed by the second T20I on July 22 and the third on July 24.

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Both sides will then head to Trinidad and Tobago for a three-match ODI series scheduled between August 8 and 12.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is expected to announce the final T20I and ODI squads for both assignments in the coming days.

Pakistan squad for Bangladesh series:

Pakistan-Bangladesh T20I Series Schedule

20 July – First T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

22 July – Second T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

24 July – Third T20I at Sher-e-Bangla National Cricket Stadium, Dhaka (6pm local time)

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Hasan Ali sets sights on Winning World Cup for Pakistan

Fast bowler Hasan Ali has declared his goal to help the Pakistan cricket team succeed in next year’s ICC T20 World Cup.

Hasan made a comeback to the national side against Bangladesh in the three-match T20I series opener. He returned with a bang, taking a five-wicket haul in a resounding win for the Green Shirts.

The pacer who last donned Pakistan’s T20I colours in May 2024 against Ireland did not look rusty in the opening game.

During the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) podcast, Hasan shed light on the challenging aspects of his rehab and the technical elements of his bowling.

He also aimed to win a World Cup for Pakistan, set to be played next year in Sri Lanka.

“If you ask me, I want to play for Pakistan in the World Cup and win it for my country. For me, every match is now an opportunity, and I will give my 110 percent. Performance will come and go, but effort matters most for me,” he said.

The 29-year-old expressed joy at his return to the national side, revealing the challenging time he had during his rehab.

“After injury, the comeback is never easy. I am humbled and blessed to have gotten fit courtesy of the hard work that is now paying me back, Hasan said.

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“Coming back into the team is nothing more than a dream come true again. I am feeling very excited and looking forward to it,” he added.

Hasan Ali emphasized the hard work, stating, “Rehab is the toughest thing for an athlete because you have to repeat the same exercise for months.

There was a lot of sacrifice, hunger, hard work, and passion,” the Gujranwala-born pacer added.

Hasan also highlighted the technical aspects of his bowling, noting that he had made several changes.

“Technically, there are lots of things that I have improved in my bowling. One thing I faced most was collapsing on the bowling crease. For two years, it felt like I was sitting and bowling.

“I was never a brace-leg bowler, but my front leg started to give way. Firstly, it was bending, and then it started to collapse. Due to this reason, my pace got reduced, and I remember that I was bowling at 128,130 kmph speed in the Australia series,” he recalled.

The third-highest wicket-taker in the recently concluded Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10 added that he had worked on his momentum and balance along with his new ball skills.

“So I have adjusted it. I have corrected my momentum and balance on the crease. Additionally, I have worked on my new ball and some of the basic things,” he concluded.

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Tim Nielsen breaks silence on Pakistan’s coaching drama

Former Pakistan assistant coach Tim Nielsen has opened up about the coaching dilemma, warning that the country’s cricketing instability is likely to deter overseas coaches from taking up the roles in the future.

Tim Nielsen, who assumed the role of high-performance red-ball coach in August last year, had his short-term contract conclude after Pakistan’s tour of Australia, which Gillespie oversaw.

He was removed in December last year despite his optimism regarding a potential extension. Nielsen believed in the progress made with the team.

During an interview with PakPassion, Nielsen mentioned the continuous changes of coaches in Pakistan cricket as a barrier to hiring overseas coaches in the future.

“If you have a look at it, it has been periods where overseas coaches have been in and they have been moved on but the same ones have come back, ” he said.

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“I do think it does create uncertainty and make it tough, ” he added.

Tim Nielsen stressed the need for cohesiveness, citing changes as obstacles in moving Pakistan’s cricket forward.

“The individuals [Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins] that are playing on the international stage are skilled cricketers, ” said the former coach.

“So, it’s difficult to perform against them so there just has to be more cohesivness. And every time they (board) make these changes, it chips away that cohesivness inside Pakistan cricket as a whole, ” Nielsen further remarked.

He emphasized the need for continuity to yield good results, noting that winning and losing are part of the process.

“Pakistan cricket as a whole is very reactive; they yearn success so much, but there are no silver bullets. It does not happen overnight; it needs to be built and the strong foundation is usually a winning a bit, losing a bit and losing a bit more, ” he concluded.

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Pakistan team reaches Auckland for third T20I against New Zealand

Pakistan team has arrived in Auckland from Dunedin for the third T20I against New Zealand, scheduled for March 21.

The Green Shirts will undergo a practice session under the watchful eyes of the coaching staff at Eden Park tomorrow from 2 PM to 5 PM local time.

The players will engage in specialised drills, focusing on sharpening their batting, bowling, and overall fitness to fine-tune their skills as they look to bounce back from back-to-back defeats.

For the unversed, after a crushing nine-wicket loss in the first T20I, Pakistan failed to defend 135 runs in the rain-affected second match, which was reduced to 15 overs per side.

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It’s worth noting that following the third T20I, Pakistan and New Zealand will play the final two matches of the series in Mount Maunganui and Wellington on March 23 and 26, respectively.

Following the conclusion of the T20I series, the two sides will face off in a three-match ODI series. The first ODI is set for March 29 in Napier, followed by the second on April 2 in Hamilton, while Mount Maunganui will host the third and final match on April 5.

Pakistan T20I squad for New Zealand tour

T20Is: Salman Ali Agha (c), Shadab Khan (vc), Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Hasan Nawaz, Jahandad Khan, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Abbas Afridi, Mohammad Haris (wk), Mohammad Ali, Muhammad Irfan Khan, Omair Bin Yousuf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem, Usman Khan (wk)

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Former New Zealand coach reveals reason behind Babar Azam’s struggles in Champions Trophy

Former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson explained the struggles of top-order batter Babar Azam and the Pakistan team during the ongoing ICC Champions Trophy 2025.

Babar has been Pakistan’s mainstay in the batting lineup for several years, but the right-hander has struggled for form after recording low scores in the eight-team tournament. His last ODI century came during the Asia Cup 2023 against Nepal.

Furthermore, 2017 Champions Trophy winning team Pakistan had a forgettable title defence, suffering back-to-back defeats against New Zealand and India before their last group-stage match against Bangladesh was washed out.

Hesson, who coached the New Zealand team from 2012 to 2018, addressed the underlying issues of Pakistan cricket and Babar Azam’s performance.

“Babar Azam is no doubt a world-class player, but during the Champions Trophy he was playing with a fear of failure,” he remarked while speaking on his YouTube channel.

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“He is very proficient against left-arm spin bowling; however, we witnessed him playing those spinners cautiously during the tournament, often just nudging the ball for single runs.”

Hesson further correlated Babar’s performances with the leadership changes within Pakistan cricket.

“Although intent was a problem with the Pakistan team in the Champions Trophy, but it was not the biggest issue. The underlying issues are much deeper than just intent.”

“There is a fear of failure among players that impacts their future performances as well,” he observed.

For the unversed, Pakistan cricket has experienced significant instability, having had four chairpersons, 26 selectors, eight coaches, and four captains in the last three years.

Hesson emphasized the need for a more stable leadership structure at the top level in Pakistan cricket.

“The chairman comes for a short-term fix. and obviously he is doing his job. I’m not suggesting a change is necessary, but consistency in leadership is crucial so that it doesn’t adversely impact the team.”

“A chairperson should implement a system that lasts for a certain period, and if they step down, there should be continuity to maintain the integrity of Pakistan cricket.” Hesson said.

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The current Islamabad United head coach highlighted that how continuous changes can affect players’ performances and teams’ contributions.

“This uncertainty forces players to prioritize their own performance over the team’s success. Players are left wondering whether their current leaders will remain in their positions long enough, which leads them to focus on self-preservation,” he stated.

Mike Hesson cited the New Zealand and Australian teams as positive examples, mentioning that their players are not judged on short-term performances.

“15 years ago, the New Zealand team had a similar kind of structure to Pakistan’s, where players fought for their spots instead of prioritizing the team. However, they have now adopted a different mechanism,” he stated.

“Cricket Australia does not make frequent overhauls; they provide players a longer run to prove themselves and asses them based on their performance over time rather than in isolation,” he concluded.

READ: Former cricketer slams decision to ‘rest’ senior players after Champions Trophy debacle

Ricky Ponting reveals why Pakistan failed to reach Champions Trophy semi-finals

Australia legend Ricky Ponting revealed the key reason behind the Pakistan team’s failure to qualify for the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 semi-finals.

The hosts and defending champions, Pakistan, were eliminated after losing their first two matches against New Zealand and India, respectively.

Pakistan suffered a 60-run defeat against New Zealand in the opening game of the eight-nation tournament.

After their defeat against the Black Caps, Pakistan lost against arch-rivals India, courtesy of a master class from Virat Kohli, who smashed an unbeaten century, chasing a modest total of 241 runs in Dubai.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Speaking on The ICC Review, Ponting questioned whether Pakistan was maximizing the potential of their key players, particularly Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan.

“They haven’t been able to give their best back to their team. Those two guys had to stand up, they had to make big runs.”

“And they haven’t been able to do it in the first couple of games, and that might be the reason why Pakistan don’t make it through to the semi-finals,” Ponting said.

Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam have struggled to score runs in the marquee event. Azam scored a scratchy 64 off 90 balls against New Zealand, while Rizwan faced criticism for scoring 46 off 77 deliveries against arch-rival India.

Ricky Ponting also praised the Indian batting maestro Virat Kohli’s ability to step up in crucial games.

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“I’ve always said big games equal big names. You need your big names to stand up in those big moments, and no bigger game for India than a game against Pakistan,” he said.

“Your reputation is forged in what you do in the biggest contests on the international stage. So it’s no surprise to me that that has happened,” he concluded.

READ: Champions Trophy: Semi-final qualification scenario after South Africa-Australia washout

Champions Trophy: Pakistan sanctioned for slow over-rate against New Zealand

The Pakistan cricket team has been penalized over a slow over-rate in their opening Champions Trophy 2025 game against New Zealand in Karachi.

The defending champions and hosts were found to be one over short of the target in the game; Pakistan lost by 60 runs.

“Pakistan have been fined 5 per cent of their match fee for maintaining a slow over-rate against New Zealand in the opening match of the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy 2025 on Wednesday,” the ICC said in a statement.

According to the ICC, match referees imposed the sanction after Mohammad Rizwan’s men were ruled to be an over short of the target after time allowances were considered.

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“In accordance with Article 2.22 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Players and Player Support Personnel, which relates to minimum over-rate offences, players are fined five per cent of their match fee for every over their side fails to bowl in the allotted time,” stated ICC.

Pakistan skipper Mohammad Rizwan pleaded guilty to the offence and accepted the proposed sanction.

For the unversed, Pakistan began their eight-team tournament 2025 campaign with a 60-run loss against New Zealand yesterday.

Green Shirts were bowled out on 260 in 47.2 overs after New Zealand’s clinical bowling performance. Khushdil Shah scored the most with his 69 off 49 balls.

Catch every Champions Trophy update here!

Mitchell Santner and O’Rourke picked up three wickets for New Zealand, while Matt Henry grabbed two.

Tom Latham was adjudged player of the match for his match-winning unbeaten century.

Pakistan will now face arch-rivals India in the much-anticipated 2025 clash, scheduled to be played on Sunday.

Pakistan squad for ICC Champions Trophy 2025

Mohammad Rizwan (c), Babar Azam, Imam-ul-Haq, Kamran Ghulam, Saud Shakeel, Tayyab Tahir, Faheem Ashraf, Khushdil Shah, Salman Ali Agha (vc), Usman Khan, Abrar Ahmed, Haris Rauf, Mohammad Hasnain, Naseem Shah and Shaheen Shah Afridi.

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