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Pakistan Head Coach Mike Hesson has hit out at critics who suggested that Pakistan’s ongoing ODI series against Australia was not an ideal form of preparation for the ODI World Cup in South Africa next year.
Many people criticised the spin-friendly nature of the pitch in the first ODI at Rawalpindi, which Pakistan won by 5 wickets. Hesson clarified that not all pitches in South Africa support out-and-out pace and bounce.
Arafat Minhas’ record performance gets Pakistan the win
In spin-friendly conditions in Rawalpindi, Pakistan’s decision to bowl first looked like the right one. All the Pakistan bowlers kept Australia’s scoring rate down to a crawl and exerted pressure.
Matthew Short and Matt Renshaw made fifties, but the day belonged to Arafat Minhas. The 21-year-old left-arm spinner made his Pakistan debut after impressing in the PSL and at the Under-19 level.
Minhas made history by becoming the first Pakistani player to take a five-wicket haul on ODI debut. The other bowlers, led by Abrar Ahmed, gave Minhas the ideal support as his 5/32 bowled Australia out for just 200.
Abrar took two wickets while captain Shaheen Afridi, Haris Rauf, and Salman Agha took one wicket each.
Pakistan’s response was simplified as Babar Azam and Ghazi Ghori made 69 and 65, respectively, in the easy chase. As the stars would have it, Minhas ended up hitting the winning runs as well.
Mike Hesson hits back at pitch critics
Mike Hesson took to his X account to hit back at the people who questioned the Pakistan side’s critics.
He explained that not all pitches in South Africa would have pace and bounce, and that was largely a myth. Hesson explained that Zimbabwe and Namibia would also host some matches, and spin would certainly play a role in those countries.
Mike Hesson also diverted the critics’ attention to Pakistan’s ODI against South Africa in Paarl in 2024, where Salman Agha, Saim Ayub, and Abrar Ahmed had combined to take 7 wickets before Agha’s rescue job with the bat got Pakistan home.
“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. 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,” Mike Hesson wrote on his X account.
“The myth of all pitches in South Africa being quick and bouncy is just not true; there are definitely some that are, but they also vary throughout the country,” he continued.
“Those who remember the last ODI series Pakistan played in SA, which included Paarl, where spin dictated the outcome of the match. Rest assured, we have conducted significant research and will be using the next 18 months to prepare for a variety of conditions,” he concluded.
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.
Firstly the World Cup is jointly hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and…
— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) June 1, 2026
Pakistan vs Australia 2nd ODI
Mike Hesson’s team will now take the action to Lahore, where both the second and the third ODIs of the series are scheduled.
Unlike Rawalpindi, Lahore is expected to have a batter-friendly surface. The game will be held on Tuesday, with the third match being held on Thursday.
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