Mike Hesson meets domestic coaches 

Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has begun preparations for the country’s long-term one-day cricket

MULTAN: Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has begun preparations for the country’s long-term one-day cricket plans by meeting the coaching staff of the four teams competing in the National Champions Cup.

Hesson arrived in Multan on Sunday to monitor the tournament and interact with the coaches and players as Pakistan’s domestic cricket season gets underway. The National Champions Cup will be played from August 11 to August 18 at the Multan Cricket Stadium, with all seven matches scheduled as day-night fixtures.

The tournament represents one of the first major events of Pakistan’s domestic season for 2026-27 and is expected to provide the national coaching setup with an opportunity to assess players ahead of future international commitments.

During his visit, Hesson held a detailed meeting with the head coaches of the four participating teams. Pakistan Greens are being coached by former Pakistan captain Misbah-ul-Haq, while Ijaz Junior is in charge of Pakistan Gold. Iqbal Imam is leading Pakistan Whites, and former Pakistan fast bowler Aizaz Cheema is coaching Pakistan Blues.

Pakistan’s white-ball bowling coach Ashley Noffke and National Cricket Academy coach Shahid Aslam were also present during the meeting.

The discussions primarily focused on developing players’ one-day cricket skills and improving different aspects of their overall game. The coaching staff exchanged views on player development, performance standards and the areas that need greater attention as Pakistan looks to build a strong pool of players for the future.

The National Champions Cup is particularly significant because it will provide an early platform for players hoping to push their claims for selection in Pakistan’s national white-ball squad. With the ICC World Cup 2027 on the horizon, the domestic tournament is expected to play an important role in identifying and developing talent capable of performing at the international level.

The 2027 ICC World Cup will be co-hosted by South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, making long-term preparation essential for Pakistan. The national coaching staff is expected to closely monitor performances throughout the domestic season as they work towards assembling a balanced and competitive squad.

The National Champions Cup will follow a single-league round-robin format. Each of the four teams will face the others once during the league stage, with the two highest-ranked sides progressing to the final.

The competition will begin on August 11 when Pakistan Greens take on Pakistan Whites. Pakistan Blues will face Pakistan Gold on August 12, followed by another match involving Pakistan Blues against Pakistan Whites on August 13.

On August 14, Pakistan Gold will meet Pakistan Greens, while Pakistan Blues will play Pakistan Greens on August 15. The final league match will take place on August 16, with Pakistan Gold facing Pakistan Whites.

The tournament will conclude with the final on August 18 at the Multan Cricket Stadium. With Hesson and members of the national coaching setup closely involved, the competition is expected to provide valuable insight into Pakistan’s emerging one-day talent and strengthen preparations for the 2027 World Cup.