Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson acknowledges his squad must close the gap on archrivals India to contend for top honors at the upcoming Asian Games.
India enters the tournament holding consecutive Twenty20 World Cup titles alongside reigning status as Asian Games champions. Since Hesson assumed his role in May of last year, Pakistan has dropped four matches to India, suffering three defeats during the 2025 Asia Cup and one during this year’s T20 World Cup.
Speaking prior to the squad’s departure from Karachi to Japan, Hesson noted that India currently sets the standard in white-ball cricket.
Although the two sides have never previously crossed paths at the Asian Games, a semifinal clash in Nagoya on October 1 remains a strong possibility. Before looking ahead to a potential meeting with India, Pakistan will square off in the quarterfinals on September 28 against the winner of Pool B, which features Hong Kong, Oman, and Malaysia.
Highlighting the need for a strong tournament start, Hesson emphasized that substantial competition remains ahead before any semifinal matchup materializes, keeping the team focused on immediate fixtures.
Historically, Pakistan has never medaled in Asian Games cricket, having fallen short in the bronze medal matches in both 2010 and 2023, while skipping the 2014 edition entirely. The report also notes that pakistan and India have never met at the games but are likely to face-off in the semifinals on October 1 in Nagoya.
