Pakistan’s white-ball head coach Mike Hesson dismissed concerns about the team’s batting performance ahead of the high-voltage Asia Cup clash against India. Speaking at a press conference in Dubai, Hesson questioned the narrative of weak batting, pointing to Pakistan’s convincing victory over Afghanistan in the tri-series final where the team chased down the world’s best wrist spin attack.
He stressed that while the batting lineup is still developing, several players are capable of winning matches on their day, and the focus remains on collective performance rather than individual strike rates.
Hesson highlighted that for Pakistan, what truly matters is reaching the target required to win rather than statistics, adding that the batting unit has consistently “got the job done.”
Acknowledging the hype surrounding the India clash, he said it was vital to remain focused on improvement and not get carried away by external pressures. While praising India’s confidence and recent dominance in T20 cricket, he described Pakistan’s approach as steady progress, aiming to get stronger with each outing.
On conditions, Hesson said the Dubai pitch would differ significantly from Sharjah’s spin-friendly surface but noted Pakistan’s flexibility due to their depth in both spin and pace. He singled out Mohammad Nawaz as arguably the best spinner in the world and expressed confidence in the abilities of Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim, Salman Ali Agha, and Saim Ayub.
At the same time, Pakistan also possesses strong seam-bowling resources, allowing balance in team selection depending on conditions.
The coach described the India encounter as a challenge rather than an insurmountable task, reflecting optimism about the squad’s ability to compete. With the Asia Cup’s group stage heating up and both teams entering on strong runs, the Dubai contest promises to be a defining moment for Pakistan’s campaign.
