TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Pakistan are set to open their Asia Cup campaign against Oman on Friday, but all eyes are already on Sunday’s marquee clash against India in Dubai. Head coach Mike Hesson has raised the stakes ahead of the encounter, boldly declaring that Pakistan’s spin arsenal, led by Mohammad Nawaz, will be the defining factor.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pakistan arrive at the Asia Cup buoyed by their recent T20 Tri-Series triumph, where they defeated Afghanistan in the final by 75 runs, thanks to Nawaz’s sensational hat-trick. With slow and sluggish pitches in the UAE, spin has become central to Pakistan’s strategy.Speaking at the pre-match press conference on Thursday, Hesson hailed the depth of Pakistan’s bowling resources, making a strong statement about Nawaz.“When you’ve got wrist spinners like that, it doesn’t really matter about the surface as much. The beauty of our side is we’ve got five spinners. We’ve got Mohammad Nawaz, who’s the best spin bowler in the world at the moment, and he’s been ranked that way over the last six months since he’s come back on the side,” Hesson said.He further highlighted the strength in depth, pointing to Salman Ali Agha’s limited opportunities.“And Salman Ali has hardly bowled, and he’s also the Test spinner for Pakistan. So, we’ve got a lot of spin bowling options, if we think conditions suit that. If we don’t, we’ve got five seamers as well, who allow us to either go for airspeed or change of pace or reverse swing, depending on what the surface provides.”Hesson also weighed in on the ongoing debate around Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s strike rates in T20Is.“Being honest about your assessment of players is important, and coming from a place with no agenda is also important. I haven’t talked about anyone’s frailties. What I’ve alluded to is the way the modern game is played, and the strike rate required in the powerplay is quite different from the past, especially in good conditions.”With Oman first up, Pakistan will look to fine-tune their plans, but Hesson’s bold endorsement of Nawaz and the spin department has already set the tone for the high-voltage India clash.
