Pakistan National Cricket Team head coach Mike Hesson has made a big statement ahead of the 2026 Asian Games. Mike Hesson has described India as the current benchmark in white-ball cricket and said Pakistan’s main challenge is to close the gap and compete strongly against their biggest rivals.
India and Pakistan can face each other in the Asian Games 2026 only if both teams reach the final. Hesson said Pakistan is preparing seriously for that possibility, but he also knows there is a long road before the two sides can meet in the title clash in Japan. Amid this, Rinku Singh <a href="https://cricket.international/rinku-singh-urges-selectors-to-pick-rohit-sharma-virat-kohli-for-2027-world-cup-2/" title="Rinku Singh urges selectors to pick Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli for 2027 World Cup”>urges selectors to pick Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli for 2027 World Cup.
Mike Hesson calls India the benchmark, sends big warning ahead of Asian Games 2026
Mike Hesson believes that India is currently setting the standard in white-ball cricket. He wants Pakistan to improve and reach the same level while preparing for a possible clash in the Asian Games 2026. India have won their last six T20I matches against Pakistan.
Three of those victories came during the 2025 Asia Cup, including the final, making the possible Asian Games 2026 meeting another exciting contest despite their recent struggles.
Hesson said Pakistan is doing everything possible to be ready if they get the chance to face India. However, he does not want his team to think too far ahead because both sides must first reach the final. Amid this, Abrar Ahmed becomes No.1 T20I bowler, and Harry Brook aims to create history in ICC Rankings.
Mike Hesson said during a media talk in Karachi, “India is the benchmark in terms of white-ball cricket at the moment, and our challenge is to catch up to them. We are certainly preparing the best we can so that, if we get an opportunity to play [India], you know, we certainly put them under pressure, like we were able to in the final of the Asia Cup.
So, look, there’s a lot of cricket to be played between now and being able to play in the final for both sides. So, we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves.”
Mike Hesson makes big statement on Pakistan’s second-string Asian Games 2026 squad
Pakistan will enter the Asian Games 2026 with a second-string squad, unlike India, with Sahibzada Farhan leading the side. Despite the absence of several regular players, including Babar Azam and Shahid Afridi, Hesson feels the Pakistan squad is balanced and aggressive.
He also sees the Asian Games as a big chance for young and talented players to show their ability on a major stage.
The head coach said, “This is still a balanced and aggressive team. The Asian Games provide an excellent platform for new and talented players to showcase their abilities. For Sahibzada Farhan, the Asian Games are an excellent opportunity to gain captaincy experience.”
Mike Hesson defends Pakistan’s progress after tough start
Hesson also defended Pakistan’s recent progress under his coaching. He pointed out that the team was struggling to move past the group stage before he took charge last year.
He stressed that expectations around Pakistan cricket should remain high, but expecting the team to immediately start winning major trophies after that poor point would not be realistic.
He signed off by saying, “It is not appropriate to judge the team’s performance across all three formats in the same way. Test cricket is an area where Pakistan is struggling. When I came in, the T20I team was ranked eighth. At the moment, Pakistan is fifth.”
Source: cricketaddictor.com
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