Colombo: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has explained his heated exchange with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha during the former champions’ crucial group-stage match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 against Namibia.
A video of Hessen engaging in an emotional discussion with captain Agha in the team’s dugout after his dismissal went viral on social media.
Following the conversation, Agha was seen throwing his water bottle in anger, and fans speculated that this was a sign of a rift between the two, with some insisting it was over the batting slot of Babar Asam, who was dropped from No.4 and ultimately not sent in to bat.
Addressing a press conference ahead of Pakistan’s Super Eight match against New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium here, Hesson was asked to explain the viral video and insisted that it was misinterpreted.
The head coach added that Agha threw the bottle because he was upset about being sent off, so it had nothing to do with the conversation, which he described as “simple”, and was about putting Mohammad Nawaz on.
“I actually sent that video and you guys really got it wrong,” Hessen told reporters.
“So, I’ll tell you what happened. So, I spoke to Salman and went to put Nawaz as a left-armer and Agha was upset that he was out, so he threw the bottle on the ground, which had nothing to do with the conversation we were having,” he added.
Mike Hesson further clarified that Nawaz was not sent out to bat against his initial instructions as the left-hander, who was bowling at that time, had finished his spell and thus, Shadab walked out to bat in the 5th over.
“And then, obviously, as I said, when the left-arm spinner finished, we talked about Shadab and went and got his bats to Nawaz,” Hesson explained.
“So, it was a very simple conversation that most of the time he wasn’t even a part of. He was standing there, very disappointed that he left, and it happened at the intersection. So, sometimes it’s amazing what people understand,” he concluded.