Coach Mike Hesson has instructed his Pakistan team to “focus on the job” in Sunday’s highly anticipated Asia Cup clash with arch-rivals India.
The match in Dubai marks the first time the neighbors will meet in cricket since a brief but deadly border conflict in May, with emotions expected to be high.
New Zealander Hesson stated on Thursday, “I guess, from my perspective, just like any time you enter a match, whether it be a final of a world event or whatever, it’s about keeping everybody focused on the job at hand and that’ll be no different on the weekend.”
The eight-nation Twenty20 tournament began on Tuesday with Afghanistan defeating Hong Kong by 94 runs. India crushed UAE by nine wickets on Wednesday.
Pakistan begins their campaign against Oman on Friday, but all the attention is already on world champions India two days later.
“We know that India are obviously hugely confident and rightfully so in terms of how well they’ve played,” Hesson remarked about the Asia Cup holders, who skittled UAE for just 57 in 13.1 overs.
India cruised to victory in just 4.3 overs.
Since winning the World Cup last year, they have won 18 of their 21 T20Is.
Hesson is thrilled to be part of a blockbuster event, which will be watched by a packed stadium in Dubai and hundreds of millions of television viewers.
“Look, I’ve certainly watched many games from afar, so certainly being on the other side of the fence, I guess, being right and amongst such a highly charged event is going to be exciting,” he added.
Pakistan enters the Asia Cup with a tri-series win in the UAE also involving Afghanistan and UAE, and confidence is growing.
“We’re very much focused on improving as a team, sort of day by day, and not getting too far ahead of ourselves,” said Hesson.
India, Pakistan, Oman, and UAE are in Group A while Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, and Bangladesh form Group B.
The top two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage. The top two teams will then play the September 28 final in Dubai.
