Islamabad, 14 May, 2025: Pakistan could soon see Misbah-ul-Haq return in a key role, as former cricketer Basit Ali hinted at his possible appointment as the new red-ball head coach.
Though no official confirmation has been made by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) or Misbah himself, Basit appeared confident about the move.
Taking to the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Basit posted a message congratulating Misbah and shared a picture of him wearing Pakistan’s Test kit.
His statement came shortly after the PCB announced the appointment of Mike Hesson as the team’s new white-ball head coach.
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Hesson’s role is set to begin on May 26. Zaka Ashraf, PCB Chairman, also confirmed the news via X, expressing his confidence in the former New Zealand coach.
He praised Hesson’s global experience and his success in building strong teams, both at the international level and in leagues such as the IPL.
Hesson’s first challenge with Pakistan will be a five-match T20I series against Bangladesh.
However, the series is expected to be rescheduled due to a clash with the final of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 10, which is scheduled for May 25 in Karachi.
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The first T20I was initially set for the same day in Faisalabad. Misbah’s reported return as red-ball coach would mark his second stint in the national setup.
He previously served as both head coach and chief selector from 2019 to 2021. If confirmed, his experience as a former Test captain could be valuable in rebuilding Pakistan’s red-ball strategy.
As of now, the PCB has made no official statement regarding the red-ball coaching position, leaving room for speculation.
However, with Basit Ali’s early hint and the white-ball position already filled, an official update on Misbah’s appointment may not be far off.
