Former Royal Challengers Bangalore's (RCB) head coach and director of cricket Mike Hesson made his way to the Pakistan Super League and has been appointed as Islamabad United's head coach.
With a remarkable coaching history, including a successful stint with New Zealand and roles in the Indian Premier League (IPL), Hesson's appointment is a significant move by the former PSL champions. The owner of Islamabad United, Ali Naqvi, expressed excitement about bringing in Hesson, emphasising how his coaching philosophy aligns with the franchise's values.
“Thrilled to bring in a globally accomplished and premier name like Hesson to Islamabad United. His rich history in coaching and his exceptional work with New Zealand and RCB make him the ideal choice to lead our team. Hesson’s coaching philosophy aligns closely with the values and ambitions of Islamabad United, and we are confident that his expertise will take our team to new heights,” Naqvi said.
Under Hesson's coaching New Zealand played the 2015 ODI World Cup final.
Hesson, whose association with RCB started in 2019, is equally thrilled about the opportunity, praised Islamabad United's commitment to principles of 4 Es like Excellence, Empowerment, Education, and Environment and looks forward to working with the team.
“I am delighted to be a part of Islamabad United. The professional, modern, and dimagh se (mindful) approach associated with the franchise resonates strongly with me. I am also impressed with United’s strategy built around the principle of 4 Es – Excellence, Empowerment, Education, and Environment. I look forward to working with the talented players and staff to build a successful team and deliver exciting cricket to the fans,” Hesson said.
Islamabad United won two of the first three seasons under the coaching of late Dean Jones. After Jones, Misbah-ul-Haq, Johan Botha, and Azhar Mahmood too linked up with the Islamabad United as head coaches but couldn't win title for the franchise.
Notably, PSL 2024 is scheduled to start in February next year.
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