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Former Pakistan red-ball head coach Jason Gillespie has backed the appointment of Mike Hesson as the new white-ball head coach, calling it a “fantastic opportunity” and a “pure coaching challenge.”
Speaking to a local sports platform, Gillespie admitted that while Hesson’s appointment may have come as a surprise to many, it made sense from a professional point of view.
“There are always surprises in the world,” Gillespie remarked. “From personal experience, you do wonder sometimes, why make such a move? But working with Pakistan’s players is a brilliant opportunity for any coach.”
Jason Gillespie, who had a brief stint with the Pakistan Test side, said his own departure was due to well-documented reasons but showed complete understanding of Hesson’s decision to step in.
“There were reasons I moved on, and everyone knows that. But from a coaching lens, it’s a chance to test yourself, to grow players, and help a team evolve. I totally get why Mike took the job,” he added.
The former Aussie pacer had nothing but praise for Pakistan’s national cricketers, calling them coachable, eager, and respectful.
“The players were a joy to work with. They listen, they learn, and they’re passionate about getting better,” he further stated.
“That’s exactly what pulled me to the role in the first place — the chance to work with such raw talent and genuinely good human beings.”
Jason Gillespie also revealed that while he hasn’t recently been in touch with Hesson, he’s known the New Zealander for a long time and has faith in what he can bring to the Pakistan setup.
“I haven’t spoken to Mike lately, but we go back to my time coaching in Zimbabwe,” he stated.
“He’s a top guy — thoughtful, experienced, and exactly what Pakistan cricket needs. If he’s given the space to work without interference, he can do great things.”
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