Pakistan Coach Mike Hesson Reflects on Loss to India in Asia Cup

Dubai, Sep 15 (PTI) — The head coach of Pakistan, Mike Hesson, attributed the heavy loss to arch-rivals India in their Asia Cup match to a frantic start and ineffective batting during the middle overs. Pakistan's decision to bat first backfired as they lost two key wickets quickly, which they struggled to recuperate from, ultimately managing a paltry score of 127. India chased down the target effortlessly within 16 overs.

Hesson assessed, "We were a bit frenzied with the bat initially. The ball stuck to the surface as expected, but our response wasn't as solid as hoped."

After the powerplay, Pakistan found themselves still in contention, but pressure mounted during the middle overs, further hampered by ineffective batting performances. Hesson noted the importance of experience in major matches, expressing confidence in his squad's potential. "We have players eager to fight back. I'm confident we'll bounce back stronger in the upcoming games," he stated.

Defending the decision to bat first on a slow wicket, Hesson remarked, "Historically, it made sense to choose batting first, even if recent matches have favored chasing. The dew factor is minor. On used pitches, the surface slows down, so putting runs on the board initially can be advantageous—but we didn't bat well enough."

Pakistan faces the UAE in their concluding league game on September 17. Despite the setback, Hesson remains optimistic about a strong performance, emphasizing the team's recent progress. "We were outplayed today, but we've shown consistent form with the bat. While we might lack big names, we have quality scrappers who earn runs for Pakistan," he assertively stated.

Highlighting promising talent, Hesson mentioned new bowlers making an impact, noting performances by Saim Ayub and Sufiyan. "We're not far off," Hesson concluded with optimism for the future.