Mike Hesson likely to take over Pakistan Test team

The Pakistan Cricket Board is weighing up a plan to bring white-ball head coach Mike Hesson into the Pakistan Test setup, with the third and final Test against England at Edgbaston, Birmingham, starting September 9 identified as the potential point of entry.

The development follows a difficult run of results for Pakistan in the ongoing series. They were beaten by an innings and 103 runs in the first Test at Leeds, and then suffered a 194-run defeat at Lord's in the second Test, where the side were dismissed for just 110 runs in their first innings. Those back-to-back losses have placed the team's coaching arrangements under considerable scrutiny.

According to a report in the Pakistan Observer, Hesson is set to link up with the Test squad ahead of the Edgbaston fixture and is expected to occupy a place in the dressing room throughout the match. The PCB has not issued a formal statement clarifying whether his role will be official, interim or advisory in nature.

Hesson had originally made the trip to London alongside High Performance Director Aaqib Javed for a dinner held in honour of Prince Charles. His extended stay in England has since acquired a cricketing purpose as the board assesses its options before the Edgbaston Test.

What does Hesson's involvement mean for Sarfaraz Ahmed's position?

The decision to draw Hesson into the Test environment mid-series has placed significant pressure on Sarfaraz Ahmed, who currently holds the position of Test head coach. The report also indicated that Sarfaraz Ahmed could be relieved of his Test coaching duties once Pakistan's England tour concludes, though the PCB has not confirmed any formal decision or timeline on the matter.

Hesson's entry into the Test dressing room at Edgbaston would represent a clear expansion of his remit beyond the white-ball formats he was originally appointed to oversee. Whether that expansion becomes permanent or remains limited to the Edgbaston Test is a question the board has yet to answer publicly.

Could Hesson eventually oversee all three formats for Pakistan?

Beyond the immediate situation at Edgbaston, there are indications that the PCB may consider placing Hesson in charge of Pakistan's coaching across Test, ODI and T20I cricket. That possibility remains unresolved, and no formal decision has been announced by the board.

Pakistan's consecutive heavy defeats at Leeds and Lord's have accelerated internal discussions about the direction of the team's coaching structure. The board's move to involve Hesson in the Test setup before the series has even concluded reflects the level of concern within the PCB following those results.

The Edgbaston Test beginning September 9 will be watched closely for what it reveals about the shape of Pakistan's coaching arrangements going forward, both in the short term and across formats.