As Pakistan prepare for the 2026 Asian Games in Japan, head coach Mike Hesson has identified India as the team his side needs to catch up with in white-ball cricket.
Mike Hesson said India is the benchmark as currently they are setting standards in white-ball cricket and that Pakistan’s challenge is to close the gap. He added that Pakistan are preparing as thoroughly as possible in case they get an opportunity to face India at the Asian Games.
However, a Pakistan-India meeting is possible only if both the teams reach the final. The tournament’s men’s cricket competition is being held in Japan from September 24 to October 3.
Mike Hesson said Pakistan would aim to put India under pressure if the two sides meet but he also stressed that there is plenty of cricket to be played before either team can think about a final.
The Pakistan squad heading to the Asian Games is not the same as the country’s main white-ball team. Several established players are missing, with Sahibzada Farhan named captain. The squad has 15 players including Abdul Samad, Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan.
Despite the changes, Mike Hesson believes that the squad has a good balance and an aggressive approach. He sees the Asian Games as an important opportunity for younger and less experienced players to prove themselves at the international level. Mike Hesson also highlighted the opportunity for Sahibzada Farhan to develop his leadership skills while captaining Pakistan at the tournament.
The coach also defended Pakistan’s progress under his tenure. He pointed out that when he took charge, the team had been finding it difficult to consistently progress beyond the group stages. According to Mike Hesson, expectations around Pakistan cricket should remain high but it was not realistic to expect the team to immediately start winning major trophies after coming from that position.
Pakistan’s white-ball setup has also been undergoing a rebuilding process, with Mike Hesson previously stressing the importance of developing greater squad depth and giving emerging players opportunities ahead of the 2027 ODI World Cup.
