New Delhi, May 23: Pakistan’s head coach, Mike Hesson, has emphasized the importance of constructing a robust and balanced team for the upcoming 2027 ODI World Cup. He stated that the team’s strategy will focus on building a pool of players in the near future.
In a podcast with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Hesson remarked, “In ODI cricket, with the next World Cup in mind, we need to expand our group of players. We will focus on young talents alongside established players. There are several areas where we need improvement. We must ensure that we have a strong team by the time the next World Cup arrives.”
Hesson highlighted the past two weeks as a valuable opportunity to identify new talents, challenge existing players, and pinpoint areas for improvement. He noted that while some young players show great promise, they still need to work hard.
Pakistan is set to face Australia in a three-match ODI series starting on May 30. Due to injuries, Fakhar Zaman, Saeem Ayub, and Usman Khan will not be part of the squad, and Mohammad Rizwan has been dropped.
Regarding these changes, Hesson said, “The absence of players like Fakhar Zaman, Saeem Ayub, and Usman Khan gives us a chance to test some young batsmen. We will be up against an Australian team that was quite disappointed with their previous performance here, having lost the T20 series 3-0. I expect they will come back with full enthusiasm. Australia is very strong in the ODI format.”
On the topic of young players, Hesson expressed, “I believe we need to be patient with these young talents. Of course, if they perform brilliantly right away, that would be fantastic, but the reality of international cricket is that not everyone can do that. The development of players and the long-term progress of the team are the main focus of our plans.”
The Pakistan team is currently preparing for the ODI series against Australia, which will provide insight into the capabilities of the young Pakistani cricketers.
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