The Aporia · Pakistan must ‘catch up’ with India in T20 cricket, says coach Hesson

Mike Hesson, Pakistan's head coach, acknowledged that his team needs to improve to challenge India in T20 cricket at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, starting September 28. India has recently dominated with back-to-back T20 World Cup wins and will likely face Pakistan in the semifinals on October 1. Hesson emphasized that while Pakistan aims to put pressure on India as they did in last year’s Asia Cup final, both teams have much cricket ahead before reaching the crucial match.

Written by AI on 2026-09-23, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

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Head coach Mike Hesson has acknowledged that Pakistan needs to improve significantly to compete with India at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan. Since taking over as Pakistan's head coach last May, Hesson’s team has lost to India three times in the Asia Cup 2025 and once in this year’s T20 World Cup. With India being the current champions of both the Twenty20 World Cup and defending Asian Games titleholders, Hesson emphasizes the need for Pakistan to catch up to their archrivals’ level.

Men's cricket at the Asian Games commences on Thursday, with Pakistan likely facing off against India in the semifinals scheduled for October 1 in Nagoya. Hesson stated that while they are preparing rigorously, if given the chance to play against India, they will aim to put pressure on them as seen in previous encounters.

Written for “Pakistan Cricket Improving” on 2026-11-02, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

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Hesson says Pakistan preparing for possible India clash at Asian Games Different event

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framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-09-23

🔮 Head coach Mike Hesson has admitted that Pakistan will have some catching up to do if they are to challenge archrivals India at the Asian Games.

2026-09-23 · Al Jazeera

Pakistan must ‘catch up’ with India in T20 cricket, says coach Hesson · assertive framing

Head coach Mike Hesson has admitted that Pakistan will have some catching up to do if they are to challenge archrivals India at the Asian Games. asserted

they → admit → Games

India’s men have won back-to-back Twenty20 World Cups and are also defending champions at the Asian Games. asserted

men → win → Games

India → watch → 3Asian

Opening ceremony offers respite amid mounting complaints asserted

ceremony → offer → complaints

Since Hesson took over in May last year, Pakistan have lost to India three times in the Asia Cup 2025 and once in this year’s T20 World Cup. uncertain

Pakistan → take → Cup

“India are the benchmark in terms of white-ball cricket at the moment, and our challenge is to catch up to that,” said Hesson in Karachi before the team’s departure for Japan. asserted

Hesson → catch → Japan

The men’s cricket at the Asian Games in Japan starts on Thursday. asserted

cricket → start → Thursday

Pakistan and India have never met at the games but are likely to face-off in the semifinals on October 1 in Nagoya. asserted

Pakistan → meet → Nagoya

“We are certainly preparing as best we can, and if we get an opportunity to play [India], we will certainly put them under pressure like we did in the final of the Asia Cup,” Hesson said of last year’s final in Dubai. asserted

Hesson → prepare → Dubai

Pakistan will first meet the winners of Pool B – comprising Hong Kong, Oman and Malaysia – in the quarterfinal on September 28. asserted

Pakistan → meet → September

Hesson said Pakistan need to start well. asserted

Pakistan → say → ?

“There is a lot of cricket to be played between now and being able to play in the semifinal for both sides, so we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves,” Hesson said. asserted

Hesson → be → ourselves

Pakistan have never won a medal in Asian Games cricket, losing the bronze medal match in 2010 and 2023, while they did not compete in 2014. asserted

they → win → 2014

Pakistan must ‘catch up’ with India in T20 cricket, says coach Hesson

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