Mike Hesson to remain Pakistan interim Test coach through WTC 2025-27 cycle
Pakistan's white-ball head coach Mike Hesson will continue as the national team's interim red-ball head coach until the completion of the World Test Championship 2025-27 cycle, a Pakistan Cricket Board source said. Hesson took on the interim Test responsibility during Pakistan's tour of England two months ago.
Hesson originally joined Pakistan as the white-ball head coach in May 2025 and stepped into the Test vacancy after Sarfaraz Ahmed was sacked midway through the England tour. The source said Hesson had agreed to stay in the interim Test role for the remainder of the current WTC cycle.
"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," the source said.
"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," the source added.
Hesson's tenure has divided opinion within Pakistan cricket, with critics objecting to the broad authority the PCB has granted him over selection and other cricketing matters. Pakistan Test captain Babar Azam admitted on Sunday that he had no role in selection matters, which were handled by the team management and selection committee, and said his job was to get the best out of the 15-16 players provided to him.
The source also said Hesson is very close to PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who has entrusted him with cricketing decisions. Several former players and critics have questioned Hesson's penchant for making frequent changes to teams and players across formats.
The immediate outlook is that Hesson will lead Pakistan in next year's Test series against New Zealand, and his overall role with Pakistan will be reassessed after next year's World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, when the PCB will determine the Test head coach for the following WTC cycle.
