Mike Hesson backs young talent, expects competitive pitches ahead of Pakistan–Bangladesh ODI series

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has expressed confidence in Pakistan’s squad while emphasizing the importance of adapting quickly to conditions ahead of the upcoming ODI series against Bangladesh national cricket team.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Hesson said the team is excited about the opportunity to test new players and continue the momentum from their recent success in 50-over cricket.

“We’re excited as a group to involve them,” Hesson said while referring to the younger players included in the squad. “Our challenge here is adapting to the pitch quickly and making sure we have a team ready to compete regardless of the conditions.”

Confidence After Recent ODI Success

The Pakistan head coach highlighted that the team has performed strongly in its recent ODI assignments.

According to Hesson, Pakistan’s last two ODI series wins were “exceptional,” with the team producing convincing performances. He credited the strong starts from the top order as a key factor behind those victories.

“Our last two one-day series have been exceptional. We’ve won both convincingly and played some good, solid cricket,” he said.

Pitch Conditions Could Play a Key Role

Hesson also spoke about the pitch conditions expected for the series, noting that the surface appears different compared to what has been seen in recent months.

He observed that there is more grass on the pitch than usual, which could create a more balanced contest between bat and ball.

“There’s a lot more grass on the square than I’ve seen in the past year,” Hesson explained. “It looks like a genuine contest between bat and ball, which is good for both teams.”

He added that Pakistan’s spin bowlers could play an important role if the surface offers assistance during the middle overs.

Opportunity for Emerging Players

One of the key themes of Hesson’s press conference was the opportunity being given to emerging players who have performed well in domestic cricket and other competitions.

The coach insisted that no player had been specifically “dropped,” but rather that the series presents a rare chance to test new talent in the ODI format.

Among those he mentioned was Sahibzada Farhan, who impressed with his performances in recent tournaments and domestic competitions.

Hesson also pointed to other promising players waiting for their chance to prove themselves at the international level.

“There are players who have been around the circuit for a while and have been waiting for this opportunity,” he said. “This series gives them a chance to show how good they are.”

Challenging Series Expected

Hesson acknowledged that Bangladesh has played a significant amount of 50-over cricket recently, which could give them an advantage in terms of match readiness.

However, he remains confident that Pakistan can adapt quickly and deliver strong performances.

With both teams expected to benefit from improved pitch conditions, Hesson believes the series could provide competitive and entertaining cricket for fans.

“This should be a genuine contest,” he said. “Both sides want to play on good wickets and be challenged.”

The Pakistan–Bangladesh ODI series is expected to serve as an important opportunity for Pakistan to test its emerging talent while maintaining its strong record in the format.