Sharjah, September 6, 2025: Pakistan men’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson on Saturday expressed satisfaction with the team’s progress under his tenure, highlighting their improved performance ahead of the T20I tri-series final against Afghanistan.
Hesson, who previously coached New Zealand from 2012 to 2018, was appointed Pakistan head coach in May following his stint with Pakistan Super League franchise Islamabad United. Since then, Pakistan have won nine of the 13 T20Is played under his leadership.
His first series in charge saw Pakistan sweep Bangladesh 3-0 at home, before losing 2-1 in the return leg away. The Green Shirts then bounced back with a series win in the West Indies. In the ongoing tri-series with Afghanistan and hosts UAE, Pakistan topped the table with six points from four matches, booking their place in Sunday’s final against Afghanistan.
“Pakistan are growing nicely as a team — certainly not perfect yet, but having won nine of our 13 T20Is since I’ve come onboard, it’s certainly a big improvement from where we were,” Hesson wrote on X, formerly Twitter. “Should be a cracking game between two rival nations.”
The tri-series is seen as a dress rehearsal for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025, which begins in Abu Dhabi on September 9. Pakistan will open their campaign against Oman on September 12 before taking on arch-rivals India on September 14.
