When Mike Hesson signed up for the Pakistan coaching gig, the country was in the midst of aerial combat with its nuclear-armed neighbour.

Additionally, none of his prior coaching appointments would have had a cricket board chief who is also the country’s interior minister.

Now six months into a 2-year contract, Hesson seems to have navigated the opening spell on a difficult pitch.

The 51-year-old understands how to operate in Pakistan’s politically-charged cricketing environment, having coached Islamabad United.

In press conferences and interviews, he demonstrated confidence in a PCB, which, even at the best of times, is under severe scrutiny from its fans.

The Pakistan coaching job not just entails managing a cricket team, but also the egos of its administrators.

Hesson’s predecesso

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