As Pakistan secures spot in the Asia Cup 2025 final against the arch rivals India, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson shared an advice for the green team.
For the first time since the tournament began in 1984, Pakistan and India will meet in the Asia Cup final
Pakistan beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in the Super Four and sealed their place in the title match.
India had already qualified, which set up this historic showdown. The final is scheduled for Sunday and the stage is now clear for the two rivals.
Hesson said that “We’ve deserved this opportunity. All the games before now were about getting ourselves in a position to win the trophy. Now it’s about delivering on the biggest stage.”
Responding to a question regarding the off the field pressure he added “Look, my message is simple: we just focus on cricket. That’s what we’re here for. There’s always emotion in big games, and sometimes that spills over but our job is to play the game, and play it well.”
He praised players like Shaheen Shah Afridi and Agha Salman, who helped Pakistan stabilise their innings on a challenging pitch before the bowlers shut Bangladesh down with clinical precision.
Hesson also commented on the pitch: “These surfaces are difficult. It’s not about playing the perfect cover drive it’s about decision-making, adapting, and fighting for every run. That’s what we did.”
When it comes to India — a side Pakistan has failed to beat in their last seven encounters — Hesson dismissed any talk of mental barriers. “Absolutely not. In the last match, we had them for long periods. We let it slip, but it wasn’t fear — it was just one exceptional innings that turned the game. This time, we have to keep the pressure on for longer,” Hesson stated.
It is pertinent to mention here that Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf shared six wickets between them as Pakistan defended a modest 136-run target to defeat Bangladesh by 11 runs in their must-win ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four encounter.
Bangladesh, chasing 136, managed 124 for nine in their 20 overs despite a fighting 30 from Shamim Hossain.
Shaheen gave Pakistan the perfect start by dismissing Parvez Hossain Emon for a duck in the opening over, before quick strikes left Bangladesh reeling at 29 for three inside the powerplay.
Mahedi Hasan (11) and Nurul Hasan offered brief resistance, but Mohammad Nawaz broke the stand before Shamim tried to steady the innings with a brisk 30 off 25 balls.
His dismissal in the 17th over triggered another collapse as Haris Rauf struck twice in quick succession, finishing with three wickets alongside Shaheen. Saim Ayub took two scalps while Nawaz claimed one.
