Rashid Latif has questioned Mike Hesson’s loyalty as Pakistan’s coach, suggesting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should conduct thorough background checks on foreign coaches who have previously worked in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Latif’s remarks came as Pakistan’s struggles continued during the ongoing Test series against England. The PCB had already made major changes during the tour, sending seven players home and replacing Test coach Sarfaraz Ahmed with white-ball coach Hesson. Pakistan, however, were dismissed for just 133 in the first innings of the third Test at Headingley on Wednesday.
Speaking on YouTube, former Pakistan captain Latif stressed the importance of loyalty when appointing overseas coaches and cited Bob Woolmer and Geoff
Lawson as examples.
“Mike Hesson, for me, security concerns are a different thing, but the loyalty factor is very important for a foreign coach. When I talk about Bob Woolmer, I know he was loyal. He had such loyalty. Then, if I talk about Geoff Lawson as a person, as a player, he was professional. He stayed in Lahore. He had loyalty,” Latif said.
He then expressed reservations about coaches joining Pakistan after working in the IPL, although he clarified that he was not directly accusing Hesson of being disloyal.
Latif raises concerns over Hesson’s IPL connection
Hesson was appointed Pakistan’s white-ball coach in May 2025 and previously served as head coach of Royal Challengers Bengaluru and Kings XI Punjab (now called Punjab Kings) in the IPL.
“All the others who have come, please help me remember; all of them were foreigners who became Pakistani coaches. They all did their work with heart. I am not putting the blame on anyone, but the coach who has come after doing IPL. There will always be doubt about him,” he said.
Latif called for the PCB to examine the history and professional connections of foreign coaches before appointing them.
“Loyalty factor is very important, and it remains doubtful. I am not saying someone is not loyal; he might be, of course, he might, but it’s better if these things are checked. Check the history. The connection would be there,” said Latif.
He subsequently suggested that IPL-linked coaches could potentially be influenced by outside interests.
“So the damage that we couldn’t do, maybe someone will who can damage you, no matter which coach comes from abroad. But one who is directly linked with IPL, from people there, who might want to use him, that’s how agents are formed,” he added.
Pakistan ended Day 1 of the Headingley Test 23 runs behind England, who reached 156/4.
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