Mike Hesson admitted Pakistan’s batting lineup was “exposed” after a heavy defeat to Bangladesh national cricket team in the opening ODI of the series in Dhaka. The Pakistan national cricket team suffered an eight-wicket loss after being bowled out for just 114, their lowest-ever ODI total against Bangladesh.

The match was dominated by an outstanding bowling performance from Bangladesh fast bowler Nahid Rana, who claimed a sensational five-wicket haul. His fiery spell completely dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup and played a decisive role in the hosts chasing down the target comfortably in just 15.1 overs.

Speaking after the match, Hesson described Pakistan’s batting display as disappointing and acknowledged that the team struggled to handle Bangladesh’s disciplined bowling attack. According to the Pakistan white-ball coach, the players became overly cautious once wickets began to fall and failed to counterattack effectively.

Rana’s spell proved to be the turning point of the game. When he was introduced into the attack in the tenth over, Pakistan had not yet lost a wicket. However, the young pacer quickly changed the momentum by striking in five consecutive overs, doubling his ODI wicket tally and leaving Pakistan in complete disarray. His ability to extract bounce and variation at high pace troubled Pakistan’s batters throughout the innings.

Hesson praised Rana’s performance and admitted that Bangladesh deserved credit for their impressive bowling display. He noted that the pitch in Dhaka offered fair conditions for both teams and dismissed any suggestion that the surface played a major role in Pakistan’s collapse. Instead, he emphasized that Rana’s skill and aggression with the ball were the key factors behind Bangladesh’s dominance.

The match also marked a significant moment for Pakistan’s squad, as the team handed ODI debuts to four players, the first time since 2008 that Pakistan fielded four debutants in the same match. However, the gamble did not pay off, with the new players struggling to make an impact. Collectively, the debutants contributed only 49 runs, highlighting the challenges faced by Pakistan’s inexperienced lineup.

One of the debutants, Shamyl Hussain, had a particularly difficult outing. He appeared uncomfortable against Rana’s pace and was dismissed after attempting an ill-judged shot at a short delivery that went straight to the wicketkeeper.

Despite the disappointing performance, Hesson defended the inclusion of young players in the squad. He stressed that giving opportunities to emerging cricketers is essential for building a strong team in the long term. According to him, young players need time and experience to develop, and setbacks like this are part of the learning process.

Pakistan also lacked a genuine pace threat comparable to Rana in the match. The team chose not to include Haris Rauf in the lineup, leaving them without a bowler capable of consistently matching Rana’s raw speed. While Hesson acknowledged that Pakistan’s bowlers struggled while defending such a small total, he noted that chasing teams often play with greater freedom when the target is low.

Bangladesh’s dominant victory means Pakistan will need to regroup quickly ahead of the remaining matches in the series. Hesson emphasized that the team must reflect on their mistakes and show resilience in the upcoming games if they hope to bounce back and level the contest.

With two matches still to play, Pakistan will be eager to improve their batting performance and prove that the heavy defeat in the first ODI was only a temporary setback in the series.