Head coach Mike Hesson says Pakistan is preparing for a potential India match at the Asian Games, while cautioning that both sides must first get through their respective matches.
Pakistan and India are placed in opposite halves of the men’s competition and cannot meet in the semi-finals. If both advance, they could face each other in either the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal playoff on October 3.
“India are the benchmark in white-ball cricket at the moment, and our challenge is to catch up to that,” Hesson told reporters during Pakistan’s training camp at the National Bank Stadium.
He said Pakistan was capable of putting India under pressure, but stressed that neither side could afford to look beyond the immediate stages of the tournament.
Hesson said the Asian Games squad, comprising players from the Pakistan Shaheens and senior national team, would provide an opportunity to evaluate emerging talent. He added that the squad would not necessarily reflect Pakistan’s future selection choices.
On captain Sahibzada Farhan, Hesson said his appointment should not automatically be viewed as an indication of a permanent leadership role. He described the tournament as a valuable opportunity for Farhan to gain experience, while noting that any longer-term decision would rest with the PCB and selection committee.
Hesson also rejected the idea that Pakistan’s performances across all formats should be judged collectively. He highlighted the T20 side’s record over the past 15 months, saying it had been among the top teams globally in terms of win percentage.
According to Hesson, Pakistan have climbed from eighth to fifth in the T20 rankings since he took charge and earned 30 ranking points during that period through a series of victories at home and abroad.
He acknowledged that Pakistan’s defeats against India remained particularly important to supporters but said they should be viewed alongside the team’s overall progress in T20 cricket.
Hesson said the Test side was currently facing difficulties, while the ODI team was continuing to develop ahead of next year’s World Cup.
He also pointed to Pakistan’s recent performances in major tournaments, noting that the team reached the Asia Cup final after struggling to progress beyond the early stages of several previous events.
At the T20 World Cup, Pakistan advanced to the Super Eight stage before losing narrowly to England, while another match against New Zealand was abandoned due to rain.
