Mike Hesson's controversial tactics blamed for Pakistan's early exit from the T20 World Cup
The Men in Green's disappointing performance against Sri Lanka led to their early elimination from the tournament.
Mike Hesson, Pakistan's head coach, faced scrutiny for his arbitrary decisions during the T20 World Cup. Sources revealed that Hesson took on multiple roles, including selector and captain, overshadowing Salman Ali Agha's leadership. This led to a series of questionable choices that impacted the team's performance.
One of the key issues was Hesson's insistence on including Babar Azam in the squad, despite the selection committee's initial reservations. During the tournament, he sent messages to the captain, creating unnecessary pressure. Additionally, his decisions to drop Fakhar Zaman and delay Usman Tariq's bowling were criticized. The bowling coach, Ashley Noffke, was also involved in these choices.
The PCB received a report on the coach's performance, but a decision on his future has been postponed. Despite the team's poor showing, Hesson's position remains uncertain. Pakistan's failure to advance beyond the Super Eight stage sparked widespread criticism, and the PCB imposed fines on the players. However, Hesson's role in the team's strategy and decision-making was also under scrutiny.
Reliable sources claimed Hesson's overreach of authority, as he assumed the role of captain, despite the PCB Chairman's grant of authority. This led to a series of defeats, with players like Salman Ali Agha struggling to assert their authority. Hesson's involvement in the playing XI and post-toss decisions was also noted, with players like Usman Tariq and Fakhar Zaman being affected.
The coach's control extended to bowling and batting decisions, with sources citing his influence on when and who would bowl or bat. In the match against India, Hesson and Noffke's decision to delay Usman Tariq's bowling was criticized. They also dropped Abrar Ahmed, allegedly to protect Shadab Khan's position. The coach's influence was evident in the match against England, where Saim Ayub was given the ball instead of Usman Tariq, despite the latter's success.
Salman Agha's compliance with Hesson's instructions was noted, and his leadership was described as weak. The coach's influence on the team's strategy and player selection caused dissatisfaction among senior players, who were not informed about their omissions. The PCB's decision to send Hesson with the team to Bangladesh without an immediate resolution highlights the controversy surrounding his leadership.
