Rawalpindi: Pakistan cricket team head coach Mike Hesson has clarified that wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan was not part of the national T20 setup even before he took charge as head coach.
Speaking during a press conference in Rawalpindi, Hesson said Rizwan was neither included in the T20 squad nor serving as captain when the new coaching management arrived.
The Pakistan head coach revealed that after the ODI series against the West Indies, the management felt it was necessary to remove Rizwan from captaincy due to the team’s inconsistent performances under his leadership.
“We have to build the team based on overall team interests rather than individual performances,” Hesson said.
He added that dropping Rizwan also served as a message to other players that selection decisions would be made strictly on merit and team requirements.
According to Hesson, the confidence level of players has improved significantly over the past year, while the management is also exploring more combinations and options ahead of next year’s T20 World Cup.
The coach stressed that Pakistan’s preparations for future international tournaments require flexibility, competition, and long-term planning rather than dependence on a few senior players.
The development has sparked debate among cricket fans and analysts regarding Rizwan’s future role in Pakistan’s white-ball setup.
