Pakistan interim red-ball coach Mike Hesson said he was not involved in selecting the revamped squad for the third Test against England.
Speaking to the media, Hesson reflected on the team’s combination going into the third and final Test.
“It’s been pretty challenging. I was heading over here to see the king and be part of the nice occasion,” he told reporters.
He described the last few days as tough amid the drastic changes that saw five uncapped players brought into the squad.
“The last couple of days have been challenging, with some players coming and some going, and then the arrival of everyone and being in the hotel with some players coming and some players going, and then the arrival of everyone,” he added.
Hesson said he had an interaction with the new players while explaining that he had come in as interim coach after being in Japan preparing for the Asian Games.
“Once, we got to Birmingham, I was able to have one-on-ones with the players to get some sort of direction, heading into the next Test. The boys are really focused now,” he said
“I am coming in at the moment as interim coach. Things have happened very quickly. I was in Japan preparing for the Asian Games and was back in Lahore and brought over here relatively quickly because changes were going to take place. We have pulled things together as quickly as possible.”
The 51-year-old said he was not involved in selecting the new players and three players had already left the squad when he took over.
“Up until now, I have not been involved in red ball cricket at all. I am not part of the selection panel. I am part of the white-ball selection panel. I had no involvement in selecting this side,” Hesson disclosed.
“When I took over, there were three players who had already left the squad, with [Mohammad] Rizwan, Imam [ul-Haq], and Salman Ali Agha, and from there it was a matter of finding a balanced squad for the third Test. Obviously, we needed to make changes anyway, and we needed to find a balance that gives us the bowling attack the best chance to compete in these conditions,” he concluded.
