Sports

IIE DIGITAL DESK ; September 24: Pakistan have struggled against India in T20 cricket in recent years, losing all six of their meetings since 2022. Yet ahead of a possible clash at the Asian Games in Japan, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has sounded confident about his team’s ability to put India under pressure if the two sides meet.

India and Pakistan will both begin their Asian Games campaigns from the quarter-final stage. A meeting between the traditional rivals could take place in either the final or the bronze-medal contest, depending on their respective progress through the competition.

Speaking before Pakistan’s departure for Japan, Hesson said his team had prepared thoroughly and would look to challenge India if they get the opportunity. He referred to Pakistan’s performance against India in the Asia Cup final, saying the team had managed to put the Indian side under pressure on that occasion and would aim to repeat that approach.

“We are going to Japan with the best possible preparation so that if we get the opportunity, we can put India under pressure, just as we did in the Asia Cup final. If we get the chance this time, we will do the same,” Hesson said.

However, the Pakistan coach was also careful not to look too far ahead. He acknowledged that both teams would have to win several matches before a potential final or bronze-medal encounter could take place.

“Before facing each other in the final, both teams have to play a lot of cricket. We have to win the earlier matches. I do not want to look too far ahead at this stage,” Hesson added.

While issuing a warning to India, Hesson also praised the Indian team and described it as the benchmark in white-ball cricket. He said matching India’s standards would be one of Pakistan’s major challenges.

“At the moment, India are the benchmark in white-ball cricket. Our challenge is to reach their level,” the Pakistan coach said.

Hesson also expressed optimism about Pakistan’s prospects at the Asian Games. He described his squad as balanced and aggressive and said the tournament could provide an important platform for emerging players to demonstrate their abilities.

“Our team is balanced and aggressive. The Asian Games are a great platform for new talent. They have an opportunity to prove their skills,” Hesson said.

He also highlighted the importance of the tournament for Sahibzada Farhan, who will have the opportunity to gain valuable leadership experience. According to Hesson, the Asian Games could help Farhan develop his leadership skills while contributing to Pakistan’s campaign.

The statistics, however, present a difficult recent record for Hesson against India. The Pakistan coach has faced India five times in his coaching career and lost on each occasion. Despite that record, he remains hopeful that his team can produce a different result if the two sides meet in Japan.

The possibility of an India-Pakistan encounter has already added interest to the Asian Games cricket competition. However, both teams must first negotiate the quarter-finals and subsequent stages before a meeting becomes possible.

For Pakistan, Hesson’s focus is therefore on preparation rather than the rivalry alone. He believes his players have the balance and aggression required to compete at the tournament and sees the Asian Games as an opportunity for both established players and emerging talent.

With both teams entering the competition from the quarter-final stage, the road to a potential India-Pakistan showdown remains open. Hesson’s warning has added another layer of anticipation to the possibility of one of cricket’s most closely followed rivalries taking centre stage in Japan.