Mike Hesson Backs Razaullah to Sharpen Under Shaun Tait, Praises Sahibzada Farhan’s Captaincy
RAWALPINDI: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson believes Razaullah under Shaun Tait will sharpen his skills, and he praised Sahibzada Farhan’s early progress as T20I captain after Pakistan sealed a 2-1 series win over Sri Lanka.
Speaking after the series, Hesson described Razaullah as raw but genuinely quick, and said working with Tait would add variation to his game.
Mike Hesson backs Razaullah to grow under Shaun Tait
Razaullah arrived in the T20I side on the back of a striking Test debut against England last month, where he struck 81 off 63 balls, including four boundaries and nine sixes, and claimed four wickets in the match. His all-round showing earned him a place in the white-ball squads.
He made his T20I debut in the series opener, taking one wicket, missed the second match and returned wicketless for the third. Hesson said the raw ingredients were clear.
“He’s raw but genuinely quick, as even top batters like Kusal Mendis have found out,” Hesson said, referring to the pressure the Sri Lanka captain faced against the young pacer. Genuine pace and unusual actions have long been Pakistan cricket’s hallmark, Hesson noted, and Razaullah fits that mould.
Razaullah under Shaun Tait: variations and decision-making
Hesson expects bowling coach Shaun Tait to shape the next phase of Razaullah’s development. The plan is to build on the pace the youngster already has and add the variations modern T20 bowling demands.
Hesson said Razaullah would learn when to deploy his bouncer and yorker, and how to read match situations better. He called the youngster an exciting prospect and said Pakistan would see more of him in the coming months. The next chance may come in the ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka, which will test him in the 50-over format.
Backing for Farhan as Pakistan’s T20I captain
Hesson also gave a firm vote of confidence to Sahibzada Farhan, who took over the T20I captaincy during the 2026 Asian Games, where Pakistan won their first-ever silver medal, and then guided an inexperienced group to the 2-1 series victory over Sri Lanka.
“I think he has made a really good start,” Hesson said. He added that Farhan was learning to trust his instincts and read the game better, and that his leadership would keep developing with time.
The head coach added that a T20 captain needs support on the field, saying it was unfair to place all the responsibility on the captain when bowlers fail to execute their plans.
What this means for Pakistan
Hesson’s comments show how Pakistan’s management views this group: a young core led by a new captain, with the coaching staff investing in raw talent. Razaullah’s rise from a debut 81 against England to the white-ball squads illustrates that pathway.
Feature Pakistan covered this series from the start. In the series opener, Razaullah and Imran Randhawa made their T20I debuts as Sri Lanka batted first. Pakistan then chased 183 to win, with Farhan scoring 89 in the series-opening victory. Farhan followed that up by urging his side to stay aggressive after the win, as reported in our post-match coverage.
The focus now shifts to the 50-over format. Pakistan will host England and Sri Lanka in a seven-match ODI tri-series starting October 18, where Razaullah will hope to press his case further.
Farhan’s own path to the captaincy was covered earlier in our report on his appointment as T20I captain. And the batter Hesson name-checked, Kusal Mendis, was recently named Sri Lanka’s Test captain ahead of the tour.
*Source: Geo Super*
Frequently asked questions
Who is Razaullah?
Razaullah is a young Pakistan fast bowler who debuted in the third Test against England last month (81 off 63 balls, four wickets) before his T20I debut against Sri Lanka.
What did Mike Hesson say about Razaullah?
Pakistan’s head coach called him raw but genuinely quick, noting even Kusal Mendis felt the pressure. He believes Razaullah will add variations under bowling coach Shaun Tait.
What role will Shaun Tait play in Razaullah’s development?
Hesson said Tait would add variations and match awareness, teaching the youngster when to use his bouncer and yorker.
When is Pakistan’s next assignment?
Razaullah is set to feature in the ODI tri-series involving England and Sri Lanka, which Pakistan will host from October 18.
Who captained Pakistan in the T20I series against Sri Lanka?
Sahibzada Farhan captained the side. He took charge during the 2026 Asian Games, guiding Pakistan to their first-ever silver medal, and then led the team to a 2-1 T20I series victory over Sri Lanka.
