RAWALPINDI: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has expressed confidence in the abilities of six newly-included players in the Test squad, saying their inclusion is part of a broader strategy to develop depth and create more options for the national team over the next year.
Speaking to PCB Digital, Hesson highlighted the strengths of the emerging players, praising their domestic performances, technical abilities and potential to make an impact in Test cricket.
Among the batting additions, Hesson described Mohammad Tayyab Arif as an exciting top-order prospect from Sialkot, who impressed in the President’s Trophy Grade-I, scoring three centuries. He praised the youngster’s sound technique, attacking approach and fielding abilities.
‘Tayyab had a very good departmental tournament.
He is a free-flowing player with sound technique and is an exciting prospect who moves well in the field, Hesson said.
Speaking about Mohammad Taha, the head coach said the toporder batter had consistently performed well in domestic cricket over the past two, three years and deserved the opportunity to be part of the national squad.
He added that Taha also impressed during the recent warm-up against Sri Lanka, particularly in his ability to handle the visiting side’s bowling attack.
Hesson also spoke highly of young Sameer Minhas, describing him as an exciting talent who had recently graduated from U-19 cricket and was continuing to develop his game.
‘Sameer is an exciting talent. He can bat anywhere in the top order.
Although he is predominantly an opener, he has also batted at number three and four, which provides us with good cover, the coach said.
On Mohammad Suleman, Hesson said the righthander was an accomplished player of spin bowling who could strengthen the middle order, with the ability to bat anywhere between number three and six.
‘He is an excellent player of spin, sweeps well and has very sound decision-making. He is also a little more experienced than some of the other players,’ the head coach stated.
Turning his attention to the bowling additions, Hesson said the selection of Saqib Khan and Ali Shabbir was aimed at providing the team with different bowling options and strengthening its resources for the longer format.
He described Saqib as an experienced domestic performer who had yet to be exposed to international cricket but possessed the qualities required for Test cricket.
Hesson also praised Ali Shabbir for his express pace and distinctive bowling action, saying he could trouble batters with shortpitched deliveries while also attacking the stumps.
‘Ali is similar to [pacer] Razaullah in terms of his pace. He has a slingy action, can bowl short and sharp, attack the stumps and deliver good bouncers,’ Hesson said.
Hesson said Pakistan needed to expand their pool of Test cricketers rather than repeatedly relying on the same players.
‘We need to know that in a year’s time we have other options within our Test squad. We cannot keep providing the same opportunities to the same players,’ Hesson said.
-Agencies