Web Desk: Pakistan’s acting head coach Mike Hesson has defended the decision to leave left-arm spinner Ali Usman out of the squad for the third Test against England, saying the conditions in England make it difficult to select a specialist finger spinner who offers little with the bat.
Usman was among seven players released from Pakistan’s touring group after the team lost the second Test at Lord’s by 194 runs. He was replaced by 21-year-old all-rounder Arafat Minhas, whose inclusion has prompted questions because of the significant difference in first-class experience between the two players.
Hesson, who normally serves as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach and is taking charge of the coaching group for the third Test, said the decision was based primarily on team balance and the likely demands of playing conditions.
“Ali Usman is a quality bowler,” Hesson told reporters on Friday. “But when you look at the conditions here in the UK, selecting a finger spinner who doesn’t contribute with the bat becomes difficult.”
Usman, 33, spent several years in first-class cricket before receiving his Pakistan debut during the team’s two-Test tour of the West Indies in July and August.
He made an immediate impact in England, claiming five wickets in the opening Test at Edgbaston. However, Pakistan suffered a heavy innings-and-103-run defeat in that match.
His impact diminished in the second Test at Lord’s. Usman took only one wicket while conceding 56 runs from 11.4 overs as England secured a 194-run victory to take control of the series.
Pakistan subsequently reshaped its squad ahead of the third Test, which is scheduled to begin in Birmingham on Sept. 9.
Hesson said Minhas provides Pakistan with an additional batting option, an attribute that can become particularly important when teams assess their combinations in English conditions.
The teenager has played 17 first-class matches since making his debut in January last year. His relative lack of experience compared with Usman nevertheless became a talking point after his selection.
Hesson argued that experience was not the only consideration when deciding the composition of the squad.
“In England at this time of year, the likelihood of playing a finger spinner who cannot bat is low,” he said, pointing to the weather and conditions that can influence team selection.
He added that Pakistan could still consider Usman for future assignments in conditions more favorable to spin.
According to Hesson, the issue was not a judgement on Usman’s bowling ability but rather whether Pakistan could afford to carry a specialist spinner who might have limited involvement beyond his primary skill.
He said the same principle influences selection decisions across international cricket, with teams increasingly seeking players capable of contributing in more than one discipline.
“In different conditions around the world, where he could be one of the main bowlers, Ali Usman can certainly remain in contention,” Hesson said.
For the Birmingham Test, however, Pakistan have opted for a combination that gives them greater flexibility with the bat as they seek to recover from two defeats and prevent England from completing a series victory.
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