The preparations for the 12th edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) have begun. While the IPL Governing Council is still pondering over where to stage the tournament following the general elections in India next year, the franchises have kept themselves busy in the trading window which is open till November 15.
Meanwhile, a major change has been made by Preity Zinta co-owned Kings XI Punjab in the coaching staff. Former Australia international Brad Hodge has been sacked as Punjab’s coach after their team failed to make it to the playoffs last season.
As per the reports in Mumbai Mirror, Mike Hesson will replace Hodge at the helm as the KXIP franchise is looking to make amends for a poor show earlier this year. It also remains to be seen if they release any of their star players for the 2019 IPL auction scheduled to take place in mid-December.
Who is Mike Hesson?
Mike Hesson is the former head coach of the New Zealand cricket team. He also coached Argentina and Kenya, and Otago in NZ domestic cricket. He was appointed head coach of New Zealand on 20 July 2012, taking over from John Wright in August for their tour of India, and later extensions to his contract would have taken him through to the end of 2019 Cricket World Cup, but Hesson announced his resignation in June this year, ending his tenure as one of the most successful coaches in the history of the national side.
Earlier, in May 2018, Hesson was also appointed as a coach representative on the International Cricket Council (ICC) Cricket Committee.
