Hesson focused on possible India clash as Pakistan begin Asian Games campaign

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said Wednesday that Pakistan must improve if they are to challenge India in a possible Asian Games semi-final in Nagoya on October 1.

Pakistan are preparing for the Asian Games while recognising India as the current benchmark in white-ball cricket. Hesson said his team will aim to put India under pressure if they meet, but first must progress through the quarter-final stage.

India's men have won back-to-back World Cups and are defending champions at the Asian Games. Since Hesson took over in May last year, Pakistan have lost to India three times in the 2025 Asia Cup and once at this year's Twenty20 World Cup.

What did Mike Hesson say about playing India?

The men's cricket competition at the Asian Games in Japan starts on Thursday. Pakistan and India have never met at the Games, but they could face each other in the semi-finals on October 1 in Nagoya.

"India are the benchmark in terms of white ball cricket at the moment and our challenge is to catch up to that," Hesson said in Karachi before Pakistan's departure.

"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.

However, Hesson stressed that both teams have matches to play before a potential semi-final. Pakistan must first meet the winners of Pool B, which comprises Hong Kong, Oman and Malaysia, in the quarter-final on September 28.

"There is a lot of cricket to be played between now and being able to play in the semi-final for both sides (Pakistan and India), so we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves," Hesson said.

What is Pakistan's Asian Games cricket record?

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

Hesson said Pakistan need to start their campaign well before thinking about a potential meeting with India. The team's immediate focus is therefore on reaching the semi-finals after their quarter-final against the Pool B winners.

India have sent a full-strength team for the Asian Games, while Pakistan's squad combines youth and experience. Opener Sahibzada Farhan will captain Pakistan during the campaign.