Mike Hesson shares how team selections are made in Pakistan setup

Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has shed light on how team selections are handled under the current setup, revealing that both he and the captain play a key role in finalising the 15-member squad. His remarks come amid ongoing discussions about the level of involvement coaches have in the national selection process.

Speaking to media during the white-ball training camp ahead of the Bangladesh series in Karachi, Hesson explained how the selection process works under the current setup.

“I am part of the selection panel, yes. The selectors prepare a list of 20 players, and then the coach and captain finalise the 15-member squad, which is then sent to the chairman,” Hesson said.

This marks a notable change in the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) approach, especially compared to the time of former coach Gary Kirsten, who was excluded from selection matters during his short tenure.

Kirsten, who took charge in April 2024, resigned just six months later, after not being involved in selecting squads for the tours of Australia and Zimbabwe. In an earlier interview, Kirsten had expressed frustration over not being part of the decision-making process.

“I realised I wasn’t going to have much influence. Once I was taken off selection and asked to coach a team I couldn’t shape, it became very difficult to have a positive impact,” Kirsten had said.

Former Test coach Jason Gillespie also stepped down in December before the South Africa series. His resignation came after the PCB parted ways with high-performance coach Tim Nielsen. Gillespie later admitted the experience left a “sour taste” in his coaching career.