Pakistan coach Mike Hesson breaks silence on mid-England series shake-up, says 'I really don’t know what happened'
Pakistan's interim red-ball coach Mike Hesson has clarified that he was not involved in the decision to release three senior players from the Test squad before the final match against England. Hesson acknowledged his role in other squad changes but expressed uncertainty regarding the initial board decisions.
Why it matters
The internal management issues within the Pakistan Cricket Board reflect broader organizational challenges in professional sports administration.
Pakistan's interim red-ball coach Mike Hesson has distanced himself from the decision to release seven players from the Test squad ahead of the third and final Test against England, saying three senior players had already been sent home before he was asked to take charge. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping changes after the visitors suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests. England won the series opener by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley before securing a 194-run victory at Lord's to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were released from the squad, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also relieved of their duties. Hesson was subsequently handed charge of the Test side for the Edgbaston clash, starting September 9.
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