Mike Henson is Pakistan's new white-ball coach

The Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, has confirmed Mike Hesson as the new white-ball head coach, while Aqib Javed will lead the High Performance setup.

The dual appointments are in line with the PCB’s commitment to revamping its cricket infrastructure and building a more consistent, high-performing national setup ahead of key tournaments.

Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Mohsin Naqvi wrote: "I’m pleased to announce that former New Zealand cricketer and seasoned coach Mike Hesson will be joining the Pakistan Cricket Team as White Ball Head Coach starting May 26."

In a follow-up post, he added: "To strengthen our cricket infrastructure, Aqib Javed joins us as Director of High Performance, complementing Mike Hesson’s appointment as White-ball Head Coach. Together, they will play a pivotal role in the evolution and success of Pakistan Cricket."

Naqvi said Hesson was selected after reviewing numerous applications, and that his international experience makes him the ideal candidate to lead Pakistan’s limited-overs sides.

A former head coach of New Zealand, Hesson is widely respected for his tactical insight and calm leadership. He has also served as Director of Cricket for the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore. Most recently, he guided Islamabad United to the title in PSL Season 9, making an immediate impact in his first year in the league.

His appointment comes at a transitional time for Pakistan cricket. After Gary Kirsten’s resignation, former fast bowler Aqib Javed served as interim coach until February 2025. However, Javed showed no interest in extending his coaching contract, paving the way for his new role, where he will focus on player development and the domestic structure.

Meanwhile, former head coach Saqlain Mushtaq, who was also in contention for the top job, is now expected to return to the national side as bowling coach.