Pakistan must focus on cricket not India in the Asia Cup final

Asia Cup final: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson urged his players to concentrate on cricket. When they face India in the Asia Cup final on Sunday. After the earlier two encounters between the teams caused emotions to run high. Hesson downplayed the resentment that tainted the prior two India-Pakistan games in this edition of the Asia Cup. Their first encounters since May’s military conflict between the nations.

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Look, my message to the players is just concentrate on cricket, and that we will definitely be doing. Regarding gestures, there has always been enthusiasm in high-stakes games, said New Zealander Hesson. India refused to shake hands with Pakistan after the first game. And the two teams also avoided shaking hands after the second.

Asia Cup: Pakistan’s Challenge vs India

That extended India’s undefeated streak against Pakistan to seven international games. Dating back to 2022 – three one-day internationals. And four T20Is.Hesson said his squad needs to be relentless against world champions India if they are to enjoy victory in the final.

We must be strong enough to put India under pressure for extended periods. Because there’s a reason why they are ranked the top team in the world. He said, emphasizing the challenge ahead in the Asia Cup final. Pakistan managed a meager 127-9 in the initial match, which India chased down for the loss of just three wickets. Pakistan performed much better in the second clash but still lost by six wickets.

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I think the way we performed against India in the last game was a significant improvement from the first match. Said Hesson, a former New Zealand coach. The first game was somewhat passive; we allowed India to control the game. In the last match, we had that game by the throat for long periods. And it took an outstanding innings from Abhishek Sharma that took the match away from us.

India-Pakistan Final Showdown

Sharma hit a match-winning 39-ball 74 to help India chase down a 172-run target. We have earned this chance, so it’s now up to us to make the most of it, added Hesson. Fiery spells from the fast bowling duo of Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf not only propelled Pakistan to an 11-run win over Bangladesh but also the first-ever India-Pakistan final in the history of the tournament in 41 years.

Given whatever has occurred off the field, the intensity and stakes will be high during the final and could see tempers rising, with both teams striving for Asian dominance. Speaking during the post-match press conference, Hesson said, My message is just focus on cricket. That is what we would be doing. As for those matters, you (the media) probably know more than I do, he added, maintaining focus on the Asia Cup final.

I deal with the cricket side. Regarding gestures, there has always been passion, hasn’t there, during high-stress matches. Our focus would be just on playing a solid game. During the first game between these two sides in the group stage, a controversy broke out when Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube did not shake hands with the Pakistan team after an easy seven-wicket win.

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Additionally, the captain did not shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart, Salman Agha, at the toss either. Following the match, Suryakumar dedicated the win to the Indian Armed Forces and praised them for their Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-supported terrorism, while showing support for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attacks in April.

Asia Cup Final: Tensions Flare in India-Pakistan Clash

This led to a clash between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the International Cricket Council (ICC), adding further drama ahead of the Asia Cup final. With the former requesting the removal of match-referee Andy Pycroft from the tournament, accusing him of violating the ICC Code of Conduct and ‘Spirit of Cricket’ by not facilitating the handshakes. Pakistan’s captain did not attend the post-match interview, and Hesson was sent to address the media for the press conference.

While Pakistan lost the match due to a masterclass by Abhishek Sharma in the chase of 172 runs, later, some viral clips showed pacer Haris Rauf making provocative gestures. After dismissing Sanju Samson, Rauf showed defiance, and later, when he was near the boundary rope, responded to the jeers from Indian spectators by raising his fingers to signal 0-6, a reference to Pakistan’s unsubstantiated claims.

They shot down six Indian fighter jets during the four-day conflict at the border after India’s Operation Sindoor in May this year. During the incident, Rauf was teased by the fans with chants of Virat Kohli, as the legendary batter had hit him for two consecutive sixes during a tense run-chase of 160 runs at Melbourne during the T20 World Cup 2022, one of which has been described by the International Cricket Council (ICC) as the ‘Shot of the Century’.

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