Jason Gillespie opens up on Mike Hesson’s surprise move to Pakistan
Former Pakistan red-ball coach Jason Gillespie has voiced his support for Mike Hesson’s appointment as Pakistan’s new white-ball head coach, calling the role both surprising and rewarding.
Speaking in a recent interview on a local sports platform, Gillespie admitted that while Hesson’s hiring may have caught some by surprise, he believes the job presents a fantastic chance to work with a talented group of players.
“There are always surprises in the world,” Gillespie said.
“Speaking from my own experience, you sometimes ask yourself — why make such a move? But the chance to work with Pakistan’s players is a fantastic opportunity for any coach,” he added.
Reflecting on his own stint with the national side, Gillespie said his reasons for stepping down were already public but added that the job itself remains a special challenge for any professional coach.
“There were reasons I moved on, and that’s well-documented. But from a coaching perspective, it’s a pure challenge. It’s a chance to test yourself, to help players grow and a team evolve — I absolutely see why Mike Hesson took the opportunity,” he added.
Gillespie, who briefly coached Pakistan’s red-ball team, praised the attitude and talent of the players he worked with during his time in charge.
“The players are very coachable. They listen, they’re respectful, and they were an absolute pleasure to work with. They just want to improve and get better — that’s what made working with them so enjoyable. That’s what attracted me to the role in the first place — the opportunity to work with incredibly talented cricketers and great individuals,” he further said.
Although he hasn’t spoken directly to Hesson since the appointment, Gillespie mentioned that he’s known the former New Zealand coach for many years and described him as a “wonderful person and fantastic appointment.”
“We spent time together years ago when I was coaching in Zimbabwe. He’s a wonderful person and a fantastic appointment for Pakistan cricket. If he’s allowed to do his job without unnecessary interference, I believe he’ll bring success to the team,” he noted.
Gillespie concluded with a piece of advice for his coaching counterpart, encouraging him to enjoy the experience.
“Just enjoy the experience. He’ll absolutely love working with the players and coaching staff. It’ll be fun and incredibly rewarding. The players are eager to learn and committed to improving — he’ll have a great time,” he concluded.
Pakistan began their new chapter under Hesson with a 3-0 series sweep over Bangladesh in Lahore earlier this month.
The team is expected to face Bangladesh again in July for another T20I series, pending official confirmation from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). After that, Pakistan will head to the United States in August to play a white-ball series against the West Indies.
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