Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull was never in favor of Mike Hesson coaching the Black Caps in the T20 format. Several times, the commentator called for Mike Hesson’s sacking, and now he got another chance to roast the former New Zealand head coach.
Mike Hesson is currently serving as the head coach of the Pakistan National Cricket Team. Well ahead of the India-Pakistan group clash in the Asia Cup 2025, Hesson stunned fans and experts by declaring Mohammad Nawaz as the best spinner in the world right now.
When Mike Hesson called Mohammad Nawaz ‘World No.1 Spinner’
It was a shocking statement made by the Pakistani head coach, especially given Nawaz’s current standing in international cricket. The left-arm spinner is placed at the 33rd spot in the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings, so many felt he doesn’t deserve the title of being the world’s number one.
Currently, India’s mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy is the world’s number one all-rounder, leading the ICC T20I Bowling Rankings chart with 733 points. Another Indian, Ravi Bishnoi, is among the top 10 bowlers in the latest ICC T20I Bowling Rankings.
Meanwhile, Simon Doull has taken a brutal dig at Mike Hesson during the Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on September 23 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.
Simon Doull takes a brutal dig at Mike Hesson as Mohammad Nawaz stays off the ball in the Asia Cup 2205 Super Four
Mocking Hesson, the former New Zealand bowler, mentioned how the world’s best spinner was not given the ball in the last two matches in the ongoing Super Four round of the tournament.
Doull neither mentioned Mike Hesson nor Mohammad Nawaz, but it was a direct attack on the Pakistan coach during the live match in Abu Dhabi. Actually, Nawaz was not used with the ball during Pakistan’s six-wicket loss to India in their first Super Four clash in Dubai on September 21.
And now on Tuesday, the Pakistan team management has yet again decided not to bowl Nawaz in their do-or-die Super Four clash against Sri Lanka. And Doull couldn’t help but laugh a bit at Hesson’s statement. He made fun of the Pakistan head coach for his bold remark at the commentary box by saying how Nawaz hasn’t bowled in the last two games.
Simon Doull said on-air during Pakistan’s five-wicket win over Sri Lanka, “The best spinner in the world, Russ (Russel Arnold), hasn’t bowled in the last 2 games.”
Salman Ali Agha praises Mohammad Nawaz’s batting, but the bowling mystery remains
Meanwhile, Pakistan kept their Asia Cup 2025 final hopes alive with the thrilling win over the Islanders. But Sri Lanka has found itself on the verge of elimination; if India beats Bangladesh on Wednesday, they will be out of the final race entirely. And India will book the final spot.
Interestingly, after winning the match against Sri Lanka, Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha avoided explaining why the spinner Nawaz has been kept away from bowling in the crucial games, as he praised only his batting skills after his unbeaten knock of 38 runs in Abu Dhabi.
Agha said at the post-match presentation, “Really happy for him. Nawaz, as a batter, has so much potential.”
