Pakistan Head Coach Sets Record Straight on ICC Trophy Expectations

Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has said the national team cannot be expected to become ICC champions overnight after years of poor results, stressing that sustained success requires time, consistency, and gradual improvement.

Speaking to Geo News, Hesson reflected on Pakistan’s progress since taking charge, saying the team was in a difficult position when he inherited it.

“When you inherit a team that wins only 20 percent of its matches, it is a major challenge,” Hesson said. “Our first objective was to build consistency in both performances and results, and we have achieved that. We are now winning far more series than before. Our success rate has risen from 20 percent to around 70 percent.”

Hesson said a team with such a low win rate cannot realistically be expected to win major ICC events immediately. He pointed out that Pakistan failed to progress beyond the first round in ICC tournaments in 2023, 2024, and 2025, but showed improvement by reaching the Super Eight stage in 2026.

“We lost one match to England and another was washed out by rain. In ICC tournaments, you have to keep competing and remain in contention,” he said.

The former New Zealand coach also referred to Pakistan’s run to the Asia Cup final, noting that the side reached the final despite entering the tournament as only the fourth or fifth favorite.

“There has been significant improvement compared to where we were before, although there is still plenty of work to do,” Hesson added. “We need to win consistently because you cannot become world champions with a win rate of just 23 percent. We still have time before the next ICC event, and we have improved in several key areas.”

Hesson also backed the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) newly introduced track-based central contracts system, saying the traditional model of covering all three formats under one structure is no longer practical in modern cricket.

The PCB recently replaced its long-standing category-based contract system with a five-track model that groups players according to format specialization rather than placing everyone in the same grading structure.

Under the new system, Track AB is for dual-format Test and ODI players, Track A is for Test specialists, Track BC is for ODI and T20I specialists, Track C is for T20 and franchise specialists, while Track D is for emerging players in the development pathway.

Hesson said the modern game demands a more focused contract structure, allowing players to develop in the formats that best suit their skills.

He added that T20 specialists should prioritize franchise cricket to improve their white-ball game, while players aiming to succeed in Test cricket should focus more on first-class cricket instead of trying to perform across all formats.

According to Hesson, the revised system will encourage greater specialization, ensure players are judged against others in the same formats, and help them maximize their potential in international cricket.