LAHORE – Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has clarified that Mohammad Rizwan’s omission from the ODI squad against Australia is part of Pakistan’s long-term planning for the 2027 ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup, stressing that the management is currently exploring different options and combinations. Speaking to reporters during a media interaction at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on Monday, Hesson said the decision was made collectively by the selection panel as Pakistan looks to build the best possible squad over the next 18 months. “In terms of this series, we’ve made a few changes because we need to look at the options we have ahead of the World Cup,” Hesson said. “With the World Cup around 18 months away, it’s important to assess different combinations and players, and that was a decision taken by the selection panel.”
On Mohammad Rizwan’s omission, Hesson rejected suggestions that the move was personal, emphasizing that the management’s focus remains on improving the team’s overall performance. The coach also addressed Rizwan’s removal from the ODI captaincy last year, saying the team’s poor results at the time forced management to reconsider its leadership approach. “Rizwan started as captain in the West Indies series, but at the end of that tour we felt we needed a change because the team had only won two matches in 12 months,” he explained. “When assessing leadership, you look at both individual performances and how to maximise the team’s overall results. We believed a change was necessary from the captaincy perspective.” Hesson further clarified that Rizwan had not been part of Pakistan’s T20I setup since his arrival with the national side, noting that the wicketkeeper-batter was already out of the leadership role before he joined the team management.
