Pakistan suffered a humiliating defeat by 202 runs against the West Indies in the third and final ODI of the bilateral series on Tuesday which was on August 12. In the match played at Brian Lara Stadium in Tarouba, Pakistan could manage to score only 92 runs in reply to the target of 295 set by West Indies. Pakistan’s flop show in the series decider invited criticism for their players from former greats. One of them was Shoaib Akhtar who slammed the team’s head coach Mike Hesson.
Shoaib Akhtar who picked up 247 wickets in 163 ODIs feels Mike Hesson is a good T20 coach, but he doesn’t know the qualities that is required to be a coach in ODIs.
Shoaib Akhtar’s Views on Mike Hesson’s Credentials as ODI coach.
Speaking to Cricket Pakistan, Shoaib Akhtar said:
“Mike Hesson is a good T20 coach, but I don’t know what qualities he has for ODIs. In this format, if you don’t play quality players, this is what will happen.”
He added: “Unless you field established all-rounders, batters, bowlers, and spinners, you won’t get a complete 50 overs. You can’t just scrape by in this format.”
He remarked: “This is the result of bad policies, not the players’ fault. Your players will always be exposed on seaming tracks. Now this rebuilding process has been given a new name, making a combination.”
He concluded by saying: “Be thankful Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc weren’t here. Whenever such conditions exist, our players will be exposed.”
Pakistan’s Embarrassing Loss in 3rd ODI
In the third ODI, 23-year-old fast bowler Jayden Seales obliterated Pakistan as he picked up 6 wickets for 18 runs in 7.2 overs. He became the first cricketer from West Indies and overall the third bowler in the world after Thisara Perera of Sri Lanka and Dale Steyn to take a six-wicket haul against Pakistan in the 50-over format of the game.
The figures of 6/18 by Seales are the best ever by any player in ODIs against the Pakistan team. Apart from Seales, Shai Hope impressed with his batting in the third ODI. The right-handed wicket-keeper batter scored 120 runs from 95 balls for the hosts. Under his leadership, for the first time in 50 years, the West Indies managed to get the better of Pakistan by more than 200 runs in an ODI match.
Shai Hope also became the first West Indies captain in 34 years to win a bilateral ODI series against the Men in Green Pakistan. For Pakistan, it was their fourth lowest total against West Indies and one of their lowest points in their cricketing career. For Pakistan fans, it was embarrassing to see such a performance as they went down without putting up a fight.
The role of Mike Hesson has been questioned here in ODIs and to be fair he had a decent tenure as New Zealand head coach in all formats. He has had a small sample of coaching in ODIs and it is very low as he has just taken over as Head Coach. But Pakistan haven’t had their way in ODIs this year. If we include Champions Trophy 2025, Pakistan have won just 1 out of their last 9 games losing 7 and a no result in one game. A stat which will not make Pakistan proud.
This is not an ideal preparation for Asia Cup 2025 but that tournament will be played in T20 format and the T20I under Salman Ali Agha is doing decently by winning the T20I series against West Indies. But if the ODI stars like Babar and Rizwan are brought back in T20Is, then it could spell trouble for Pakistan. But if the Men in Green can stick to the Salman Ali Agha team, then they may compete in the Asia Cup.
We shall see how things unfold for Pakistan cricket in the coming months and whether they can bounce back from this humiliating loss that they suffered in Tarouba on the 12th of August.
Also Read: WI vs PAK: Shai Hope’s Heroics End 34-Year Drought As West Indies Crush Pakistan In ODI Series