Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has labelled the concept of specialist batters in T20 cricket as outdated, advocating instead for players who bring multiple skills to the table and focus on team goals rather than personal milestones.
Hesson, who recently guided Pakistan to a 3-0 T20 series win over Bangladesh, credited the team’s dynamic, attacking style — even amid regular dismissals — to this new philosophy. The approach mirrors the tactics he previously employed with Islamabad United in the Pakistan Super League (PSL).
In an interview with ESPNcricinfo, Hesson emphasized that the performance against Bangladesh sets the tone for the style of cricket he expects from Pakistan moving forward.
“The era of pure specialist batters is over,” he said. “You need more versatile options — left-arm spinners, offspinners, all-rounders — so the captain has multiple tactical choices.”
Hesson stressed the importance of players contributing with both bat and ball. “You want batters performing above average and bowlers conceding below average. That balance is what we’re aiming for.”
This isn’t a new mindset for Hesson, who has long supported rotating bowlers and using a deep bench of options to keep opponents unsettled and empower captains with more flexibility.
While Pakistan has had mixed results under previous foreign coaches like Jason Gillespie and Gary Kirsten — both stints ending amid contractual issues and underwhelming performances — Hesson said he took the role fully aware of the challenges, believing the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) aligns with his long-term vision.
“There won’t be instant success,” he acknowledged. “We’ll have ups and downs. But if everyone — selectors, the National Cricket Academy, PCB leadership, and senior players — is aligned on our peak periods, we can build a clear roadmap.”
Hesson also called for “intelligent, deliberate cricket played with intent” rather than reckless aggression, highlighting the need for tactical clarity in white-ball formats.
Regarding the recent omission of key players such as Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, and Mohammad Rizwan, Hesson clarified that selection remains open — but players must adapt to the team’s evolving needs.
“It’s obvious when a player is chasing personal milestones,” he said. “Those will come naturally if you’re putting the team first — and when they do, the whole team will celebrate them.”
