Mike Hesson Acknowledges India as the Standard in White-Ball Cricket Ahead of Asian Games
Pakistan's Strategy Against India in Asian Games
On Wednesday, Mike Hesson, the head coach of Pakistan, referred to India as the gold standard for all teams competing in white-ball formats. He expressed his intention to apply pressure on India should both teams face off in the men's cricket event at the Asian Games in Japan.
Pakistan has faced defeat in their last six encounters with India, including three losses during the Asia Cup 2025.
Hesson stated, "India currently sets the standard in white-ball cricket. Our challenge is to bridge the gap with them in this format." This comment came just before the Pakistan team departed for the continental tournament.
He added, "We are preparing thoroughly, and if we get the chance to play against India, we will certainly aim to put them under pressure, similar to what we did in the Asia Cup final."
Hesson noted that there is still much cricket to be played before any potential final match, urging the team not to get ahead of themselves.
In the Asian Games, Pakistan and India can only meet if they both reach the final or compete for the bronze medal, as they are placed in different groups.
The tournament format allows teams to enter directly into the quarterfinals.
Unlike India, which has fielded a strong squad aiming for another gold medal, Pakistan has selected a mix of seasoned players and those with limited international experience.
Hesson downplayed the notion that Sahibzada Farhan's role as captain for the Asian Games indicates a long-term leadership position. He acknowledged that while the Asian Games offer Farhan a chance to demonstrate his leadership skills, any extension of his captaincy will depend on the selection committee and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
When questioned about Pakistan's performance decline across formats, Hesson expressed frustration, stating it was unjust to evaluate the team uniformly across all formats.
He acknowledged that while Pakistan has faced challenges in Test cricket, their T20 performance has shown significant improvement over the past 15 months.
Hesson highlighted that Pakistan has climbed from eighth to fifth in the ICC T20I rankings since he took over, gaining 30 ranking points. "This progress has come from winning series, not just in Pakistan but also in Dubai, America, and elsewhere. We've secured numerous series victories in T20 cricket over the last 15 months," he concluded.