Hesson Plays Down Concerns About Sluggish Tracks Ahead Of World Cup

Pakistan men’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson responded to questions about the use of spin-friendly pitches in the ongoing ODI series against Australia. He brushed aside criticism from some fans about the surfaces, saying these conditions will not hamper Pakistan’s preparations for the 2027 ODI World Cup.

The ongoing ODI series is very important for Pakistan as they build up to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2027, which will be jointly hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Namibia. Pakistan currently lead 1-0 after a tough win in a low-scoring first match against Australia.

Even after that win, some cricket experts raised concerns about the spin-friendly pitch, pointing out that the World Cup will likely be played on quicker, pace-friendly wickets, especially in South Africa.

However, Mike Hesson downplayed the perception that all South African surfaces are fast and pace-friendly. He also reminded everyone that the World Cup will also be played in Zimbabwe and Namibia, where teams usually encounter low and turning surfaces.

"I've been hearing a bit of chatter about the pitches here in Pakistan not being the ideal preparation for the World Cup in South Africa. It's actually a topic I talked about on the latest [PCB podcast]," said Mike Hesson on social media.

"Firstly, the World Cup is jointly hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Zimbabwe and Namibia have venues where spin is a big factor, and we will be playing matches in those countries.” added Mike Hesson.

"The myth of all pitches in South Africa being quick and bouncy are just not true; there are definitely some which are but they also vary throughout the country." added Mike Hesson.

He also pointed to Pakistan’s recent away ODI series against South Africa in late 2024, where the first match in Paarl was heavily influenced by spinners. He said the team management has studied those conditions closely and will use what they learned to get ready for different types of pitches.

"Those that remember the last ODI series Pakistan played in SA which included Paarl where spin dictated the outcome of the match. Rest assured we have [completed] significant research and will be using the next 18 months to prepare for a variety of conditions." concluded Mike Hesson.

For the unversed, many fans have questioned Hesson’s white-ball tactics after Pakistan lost to Bangladesh in the last ODI series. Keeping that in view, Hesson and his team are committed to produce strong results in the ongoing series, where Pakistan are currently leading 1-0.