Dubai: Seven games, seven defeats — but Pakistan aren’t dwelling on the stats or recent form. Ahead of Sunday’s Asia Cup final against India, head coach Mike Hesson insists his team has the tools to flip the script and end their losing streak. Pakistan, incidentally, scraped past Bangladesh by 11 runs on Thursday to seal their place in the title clash. At 49/5 after 11 overs, the game was Bangladesh’s to lose — which they duly did with dropped catches and a string of reckless shots that handed Pakistan a lifeline. A relaxed Hesson, speaking after the game, underlined the team’s focus on staying in the present while acknowledging their long-held goal of reaching this stage. “We’ve always talked about wanting to be in this match at the end of the tournament, and we’ve played some good cricket to get here,” he said.
Victories over strong opponents like Sri Lanka — a side Pakistan hadn’t beaten since 2017 — and a recent tri-series triumph have bolstered the squad’s belief. The New Zealander pointed to one key moment that shaped their campaign. “When everyone writes you off 10 overs into the match, and you come back to win, that builds a bit of confidence in the group.” Off the field, Pakistan have been under the spotlight following the handshake controversy and subsequent debate over on-field gestures during their last meeting with India. Hesson’s message is clear: “Block out a bit of passion in high-pressure games but our focus will be on playing a good game.” Pakistan have faced India seven times in recent internationals — four T20Is and three ODIs — losing on each occasion. Hesson, however, dismissed talk of a mental block. “The first game, we were passive and allowed India to control it. In the last match, we had the game by the scruff of the neck.” Despite a game-changing knock from India’s swashbuckling opener Abhishek Sharma, Hesson believes Pakistan can compete by sustaining pressure across all phases. “We have to be good enough to put India under pressure for long enough,” he said, stressing that consistency — especially in the powerplay — will be crucial against the world’s top-ranked side. On the eve of this historic final, the first one in 41 years, Hesson’s message to his players is one of focus and opportunity. “We’ve deserved this opportunity, so now it’s up to us to make the most of it,” he said. Reiterating the importance of peaking at the right time, he added, “All the games up to this point have been about getting ourselves in a position to win the trophy. The only match that really counts is the one at the end.”
