Pakistan Cricket: Hesson Under Scrutiny After T20 World Cup Exit

Pakistan's white-ball head coach, Mike Hesson, is currently under intense scrutiny, with reports emerging on March 4, 2026, that his conduct has sparked a dressing room rift and led to players lodging formal complaints with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). These developments follow the team's disappointing exit from the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026. According to a report from Geo News, cited by Hindustan Times, players have raised significant concerns over Hesson's 'planning, authority and man-management' throughout the World Cup campaign. These complaints are serious enough that the PCB is reportedly reviewing his conduct, examining the tour report, and preparing to issue a formal warning to the New Zealander. The warning is expected to address 'flawed planning and unilateral decision-making' that allegedly impacted the team's performance. Hesson was appointed as Pakistan's white-ball head coach on May 13, 2025, with his tenure officially commencing on May 26, 2025, for a period exceeding two years, encompassing two major ICC tournaments: the T20 World Cup and the 50-over World Cup. His leadership was also present during Pakistan's defeat to India by 61 runs in the T20 World Cup 2026, a result that left the dressing room 'pretty disappointed.' The allegations of a dressing room rift are further substantiated by other recent reports. NDTV Sports, also on March 4, 2026, reported that Pakistan players revolted against Coach Mike Hesson following the T20 World Cup debacle and complained to the cricket board. News18 also echoed similar reports of player complaints and the PCB's potential actions. Earlier, on February 21, 2026, Hindustan Times had reported on a 'heated altercation' between Captain Salman Ali Agha and Hesson in the dressing room during a match against Namibia. While Hesson clarified that Agha was upset about his dismissal rather than a disagreement with him, subsequent reports suggest deeper underlying issues of discontent. Adding to the complexities, former international umpire and Pakistan selector Aleem Dar recently resigned from the national selection committee. His resignation, reported on March 4, 2026, was reportedly driven by 'frustration over the authority of coach Mike Hesson and the perceived silence of fellow committee member Aqib Javed.' Dar reportedly felt sidelined in key selection discussions and had opposed the inclusion of certain players like Babar Azam, Shadab Khan, and Usman Khan in the T20 World Cup squad. This highlights a broader issue of Hesson's significant influence over team affairs, which reportedly caused friction within the selection panel and with captain Salman Agha. Public criticism has also been vocal, with former Pakistan captain Salman Butt openly questioning Hesson's coaching philosophies. After Pakistan's defeat to England in the Super 8 stage (February 25, 2026), Butt remarked on The Indian Express that he didn't understand Hesson's logic regarding team selections and strategies, suggesting that Hesson 'doesn't even know its definition' when he 'speaks about modern cricket.' Butt's criticism extended to the team's preparation on "low, slow, and 'grippy' pitches" in Pakistan before the World Cup, which he believed did not prepare them for international conditions. Beyond coaching and selection, there were also reports in August 2025 of senior Pakistan players being 'shocked' and feeling 'disrespected' after the PCB removed Category A from central contracts. The report hinted at an impression that 'few players got contracts or promotions under the influence of Aaqib Javed and coach Mike Hesson,' raising questions about favoritism. Furthermore, following the poor T20 World Cup performance, the PCB reportedly took strict action, fining every player five million rupees to emphasize accountability. Amidst these developments in the white-ball setup, the Pakistan Test team coaching role is also seeing changes. Former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed is expected to be appointed as the new head coach for the Test format, a position that has been vacant since October 2025. This indicates a clear separation of coaching responsibilities for different formats within Pakistan cricket. Overall, the situation within Pakistan cricket is turbulent, with Hesson's position as white-ball coach facing significant challenges from both players and the board in the aftermath of a disappointing World Cup performance.

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