Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson defended the team’s decision to prepare a spin-friendly pitch for the opening ODI against Australia. Hesson dismissed criticism of the strategy and said that the team remains focused on building the right approach for future international events.
The first ODI of the three-match series was played at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on May 30, 2026. Pakistan won the toss and chose to bowl first. The hosts bowled Australia out for 200 runs before chasing down the target with five wickets in hand to take an early lead in the series.
I’ve Been Hearing A Bit Of Chatter About The Pitches Here – Mike Hesson
Mike Hesson responded to criticism about whether Pakistan’s pitches are the right preparation for the upcoming ODI World Cup. The Pakistan white-ball coach said that the team is fully aware of the conditions it will face during the tournament and believes spin-friendly surfaces remain relevant.
“I’ve been hearing a bit of chatter about the pitches here in Pakistan not being the ideal preparation for the World Cup in South Africa. It’s actually a topic I talked about on the latest #PCB podcast,” Mike Hesson wrote on X.
“Firstly, the World Cup is jointly hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Zimbabwe and Namibia have venues where spin is a big factor, and we will be playing matches in those countries,” he added.
I’ve been hearing a bit of chatter about the pitches here in Pakistan not being the ideal preparation for the World Cup in South Africa. It’s actually a topic I talked about on the latest #PCB podcast.
Firstly the World Cup is jointly hosted in South Africa, Zimbabwe and…
— Mike Hesson (@CoachHesson) June 1, 2026
The Myth Of All Pitches In South Africa Being Quick And Bouncy – Mike Hesson
Mike Hesson also stated that all South African pitches do not favor fast bowlers. The Pakistan coach said that conditions vary from venue to venue and that spin can still play an important role in several locations.
“The myth of all pitches in South Africa being quick and bouncy are just not true. There are definitely some which are, but they also vary throughout the country,” Hesson said.
“Those that remember the last ODI series Pakistan played in SA will recall Paarl, where spin dictated the outcome of the match. Rest assured, we have completed significant research and will be using the next 18 months to prepare for a variety of conditions,” he added.
Arafat Minhas Stars On Debut As Pakistan Defeat Australia
Australia struggled against Pakistan’s spin attack and were bowled out for 200. Matt Renshaw top-scored with 61 off 63 balls, while Matthew Short added 55 off 76 balls. Abrar Ahmed chipped in with 2/44, and Shaheen Shah Afridi claimed 1/19 as Pakistan wrapped up the innings.
Debutant Arafat Minhas produced a sensational spell on his ODI debut. The left-arm spinner took five wickets, including three in a single over. He dismissed Josh Inglis and Marnus Labuschagne before clean-bowling Cameron Green for a duck, putting Australia under severe pressure.
Pakistan chased down the 201-run target comfortably despite some early control from spinners Matthew Kuhnemann and Tanveer Sangha. Babar Azam led the chase with 69 runs and shared a crucial 126-run partnership for the third wicket with Ghazi Ghori.
Although Nathan Ellis picked up two late wickets, Pakistan sealed a five-wicket win with 45 balls to spare, with Arafat finishing the match in style by hitting the winning six.
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