Pakistan’s interim red-ball coach Mike Hesson has distanced himself from the decision to release seven players from the Test squad ahead of the third and final Test against England, saying three senior players had already been sent home before he was asked to take charge.The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) made sweeping changes after the visitors suffered heavy defeats in the first two Tests. England won the series opener by an innings and 103 runs at Headingley before securing a 194-run victory at Lord’s to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.Mohammad Rizwan, Salman Ali Agha, Imam-ul-Haq, Ali Usman, Aamir Jamal, Muhammad Awais Zafar and Khurram Shahzad were released from the squad, while head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul were also relieved of their duties. Hesson was subsequently handed charge of the Test side for the Edgbaston clash, starting September 9.
Hesson clears air on Rizwan, Agha and Imam
Speaking to the media in Birmingham on Friday, Hesson said he had no role in the decision to release Rizwan, Agha and Imam, insisting that the trio had already left the squad when he was approached to manage the Test team.“When they (Pakistan Cricket Board) told me if I could manage the side for the final Test, these three players (Rizwan, Agha and Imam) were already released from the squad and (were) on their way home. So, I really don’t know what happened there,” Hesson said.While making it clear that he was not involved in the decision concerning the three senior players, Hesson acknowledged that he did have a role in reshaping the rest of the squad.“I was involved in the release of the rest of the players and the inclusion of some new players,” he said.Hesson explained that he had recently returned from Japan after his involvement with Pakistan’s white-ball setup when the PCB asked him to take over the red-ball side.“We already had a white-ball camp in Lahore and I had just returned from Japan where the Asian Games are taking place, when I was asked if I could manage the red-ball squad,” he added.
Hesson wants more variety in bowling attack
With Pakistan already out of contention for the Test series, Hesson said his priority was to create a more balanced squad for the final match.“I decided to make some changes in the squad to get balance into the squad and my emphasis has been on having a bowling attack which has variety and where we have a couple of bowling all-rounders,” he said.The revamped squad includes Saim Ayub and Abdullah Fazal, along with uncapped players Arafat Minhas, Mohammad Imran Jnr, Saad Baig, Mohammad Imran and Razaullah.
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