Pakistan Head Coach Mike Hesson Points Out Main Reason for Pakistan’s Defeat to India

Pakistan suffered a seven-wicket defeat to India in their Group A Asia Cup clash in Dubai, triggering intense scrutiny from fans and analysts. Head coach Mike Hesson openly acknowledged his team’s shortcomings, particularly highlighting the batting failures as the key reason for the loss.

The decision by Salman Ali Agha to bat first, along with the overall team selection, came under criticism following the match. However, Hesson defended the choice to bat first, explaining that slower, used pitches often favour setting a target. “I guess these used surfaces get slower, so runs on the board can help. But we didn’t bat well—that’s the reality,” Hesson said. “We were 20 to 30 runs short, and there’s lots to work on against a good bowling attack.”

Pakistan’s batting lineup, which has faced criticism recently for its ultra-aggressive style under Hesson’s guidance, once again struggled against India’s disciplined bowling. Five of the top seven batsmen failed to reach double digits, with Shaheen Afridi providing a lone resistance with a gritty 33 runs. Pakistan’s modest target of 128 proved too small for the Indian side, who comfortably chased it down following an explosive start from Abhishek Sharma.

Despite the defeat, Mike Hesson remains optimistic about Pakistan’s prospects. The team is still favored to qualify for the Super Four stage as the second team from Group A. Their final group fixture is scheduled against the UAE on 17 September. With the competition expected to intensify, Hesson and his squad will need to quickly adjust their strategy to challenge the tournament heavyweights.

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