Pakistan white-ball head coach Mike Hesson has said that the central contract system is being revamped to help improve the performance of national cricketers.
Speaking to media, Hesson said the practice of having a single central contract covering all formats has come to an end. He explained that asking a player who specializes in T20 cricket to play first-class matches would prevent him from fully developing in his preferred format.
He added that players aiming to become Test specialists must continue playing first-class cricket. According to Hesson, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is introducing a new contract structure that will allow players to specialize in their respective formats and enhance their performances.
The white-ball coach said that previously Pakistan were winning neither home nor away series, and taking over a team with only a 20 percent win rate was a major challenge. He noted that the team’s success rate has now improved significantly, rising from 20 percent to around 70 percent.
Hesson said teams with only a 20 percent success rate cannot realistically win ICC tournaments. He pointed out that Pakistan failed to progress beyond the first round of ICC events in 2023, 2024, and 2025, but reached the Super Eight stage in 2026, losing one match to England while another was washed out by rain.
He also said Pakistan had been ranked as the fourth or fifth-best team before the Asia Cup, yet managed to reach the final. While acknowledging there is still room for improvement, he expressed confidence that the team will continue to progress and achieve more consistent results.
Hesson added that players not selected for the Asian Games squad remain in contention for future selection. With 15 months remaining before the ODI World Cup, Pakistan plans to expand its player pool and spend the next six months giving young cricketers opportunities. He said the Asian Games will provide valuable exposure to emerging players, allowing the team management to assess talent for the future.
He concluded by saying that the Asian Games should not be viewed as a competition against India alone, as several other strong teams will also be participating. Afghanistan remains a dangerous T20 side, Sri Lanka are improving, and Pakistan believes its squad has the right balance to compete successfully.
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