As Pakistan A prepares for the highly anticipated clash with India A in the 2024 ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup, team captain Mohammad Haris has revealed that the team management has enforced a strict rule in the dressing room, i.e., discussions about the match against India are off-limits. The decision, according to Haris, is to keep the young players focused and avoid added pressure before the game.
In a recent viral video, the 23 years old wicketkeeper-batter can be heard explaining the rationale behind the ban. Haris said, “Talking about India is banned in the dressing room. Players feel pressure when thinking about the match against India, and we don’t want to put them under pressure.” The team’s management aims to ensure the players approach all matches with the same level of focus and not get overly fixated on the high-stakes rivalry.
While the Pakistan A squad faces a challenging opening match against India A on October 19, Haris emphasised that their focus extends beyond just one game. He mentioned that preparations for the tournament are going well and the team is working hard to perform in all matches. In his words, “We’re not just focusing on India, but we’ve got important matches against other teams too, like Oman and the UAE.”
Here is the video clip:
https://x.com/_FaridKhan/status/1846227631467122757
Click to watch this video directly on X
Haris’ experience as a captain is not new, having recently led Team Stallions in the 2024 Champions One-Day Cup organised by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Although Stallions reached the play-offs, they were eliminated by the Lions in a close encounter on September 25 where Haris contributed a 30-run knock but fell short of securing a win. Reflecting on his captaincy, Haris described it as a valuable learning opportunity, particularly leading a team that included senior players.
With the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Teams Asia Cup set to kick off on October 18, Haris and Pakistan A will be aiming to make a strong start in their campaign. Following the showdown with India A, Pakistan A will play against Oman on October 21 and face UAE two days later.
The tournament consists of two groups, with Afghanistan A, Bangladesh A, Hong Kong A and Sri Lanka A competing in the other group. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals scheduled for October 25. The grand finale will take place on October 27, offering the young cricketers a shot at regional glory.
As tensions rise ahead of the India-Pakistan clash, Haris’ leadership approach is designed to keep his team level-headed and ready to compete against all opponents. Pakistan A’s journey in the tournament will test their resilience and composure, with the hope of lifting the trophy in the final.
