EDGBASTON: Interim Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson says his players are accustomed to dealing with “chaos” after Pakistan made sweeping changes ahead of the third Test against England.
Pakistan have struggled badly in the series, losing the opening two Tests and responding by dropping seven players and calling up seven replacements. The shake-up also saw former head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed replaced, with Hesson taking temporary charge of the Test side.
The third Test begins at Edgbaston on Wednesday, September 9, with Pakistan facing the difficult task of avoiding a series whitewash.
Mike Hesson Takes Charge Amid Pakistan Test Chaos
Mike Hesson admitted that the rapid changes have created a challenging environment for the Pakistan squad, but said the players have responded positively.
Hesson had been working with Pakistan’s white-ball team and was recently in Japan preparing for the Asian Games. He had only planned to travel to the United Kingdom for the team’s meeting with King Charles at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday.
Instead, the New Zealander’s visit quickly turned into a coaching assignment after he was placed in charge of the Test team on an interim basis.
“I was heading over to see the King and be part of a nice occasion. That got expedited,” Hesson said.
He acknowledged that the past few days had been difficult, with players arriving and departing from the team hotel as Pakistan reshaped its squad following two heavy defeats.
Mike Hesson Explains Pakistan Squad Changes
The most notable changes involved three senior players: batters Imam-ul-Haq and Salman Ali Agha, along with wicketkeeper Mohammad Rizwan, who were removed from the squad before Hesson assumed responsibility for the Test side.
Hesson said he subsequently assessed Pakistan’s bowling options and made further changes based on the conditions expected at Edgbaston.
Spinner Ali Usman and fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who both played in the opening two Tests, were released from the tour.
Meanwhile, Aamer Jamal and Muhammad Awais Jafar, despite not appearing in either of the first two matches, were also released.
The extensive reshuffle reflects Pakistan’s determination to find a combination capable of competing more effectively in the final Test.
Mike Hesson Focuses on England Test Comeback
Despite the disappointment of losing the first two matches, Mike Hesson said the Pakistan players have been able to put the setbacks aside and focus on the challenge ahead.
The interim coach said the team had to move quickly from disappointment to preparation, emphasizing the importance of determining what comes next rather than dwelling on the previous results.
“They’ve been really good over the past couple of days,” Hesson said.
Pakistan now have limited time to prepare for the third Test, which starts at Edgbaston at 11:00 BST on September 9.
England will enter the match with the series already secured, while Pakistan will be looking for a strong response after a disappointing start. Hesson’s immediate task will be to settle the dramatically altered squad and identify the best combination for the conditions.
With seven players released and seven replacements brought into the setup, Pakistan’s final Test XI is expected to attract significant attention as Hesson begins his temporary assignment.
