Hesson says Pakistan preparing for possible India clash at Asian Games

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson stated that his team is preparing as best they can for a potential clash with India at the Asian Games, though he emphasized that there is still ample cricket to be played before they face off. The two teams are set to meet in either the gold medal match or the bronze medal play-off on October 3, should they advance past the initial rounds.

Hesson acknowledged that India is currently the benchmark in white-ball cricket and that Pakistan's challenge is to catch up to that standard. He cautioned, however, against looking too far ahead and advised that both teams should focus on the games that lie ahead.

The Asian Games squad comprises players from both the Pakistan Shaheens and the national side, presenting an opportunity for new players to gain experience. Hesson downplayed suggestions that Sahibzada Farhan's appointment as captain for the Asian Games signaled a long-term leadership role, stating that the tournament would provide him with valuable experience.

The coach also urged against grouping Pakistan's Test, ODI, and T20 sides, highlighting that the T20 side's recent performances have placed them among the top three or four teams in the world in terms of win percentage.

While acknowledging the significance of Pakistan's repeated defeats against India, Hesson stressed that these results should not overshadow the broader progress made by the T20 side. He noted that Pakistan has risen from eighth to fifth in the T20 rankings since he took charge and has gained 30 ranking points over the past 15 months.

Hesson also pointed to Pakistan's progress in recent major tournaments, including their final appearance at the Asia Cup a year and a half ago and their reach to the Super Eight stage at the T20 World Cup. He cautioned that rebuilding Pakistan cricket would take time, but urged fans to maintain high expectations.