By Staff Reporter
LAHORE: Pakistan clinched a spot in the Asia Cup final with a gritty 11-run win over Bangladesh in their final Super Four match on Thursday, setting up a high-stakes clash with arch-rivals India on Sunday.
The victory at Dubai International Cricket Stadium offered redemption for Pakistan, who faced heavy criticism after twin defeats to India in the group stage and Super Four rounds. Head coach Mike Hesson, whose tactics were questioned following those losses, insisted his team had earned their place in the final by defeating every other opponent in the tournament.
“We’ve deserved this opportunity, and now it’s up to us to make the most of it,” Hesson told reporters post-match. “All the games before this were about getting into a position to win the trophy. The final is what counts, and that’s our focus — to play our best when it matters.”
Pakistan’s campaign began with comfortable wins over Oman and hosts United Arab Emirates, interrupted by a seven-wicket loss to India. The Super Four stage saw another setback, a six-wicket defeat to Suryakumar Yadav’s side, before narrow victories over Sri Lanka and Bangladesh secured their final berth.
Thursday’s match exposed Pakistan’s batting frailties. Slumping to 46-4 after the powerplay, they limped to 135-8, propped up by a determined rearguard. Hesson admitted flaws but praised his team’s resilience. “You don’t always play the perfect game in tournaments; the opposition ensures that,” he said. “We were far from perfect in the first 10 overs. But winning from that position shows the character in this group. We got out trying to be aggressive before adjusting to the pitch. As surfaces tire, discipline is key.”
Reflecting on the India losses, Hesson noted progress. “We were passive in the first game, letting India dominate,” he said. “In the second, we controlled large periods until Abhishek Sharma’s exceptional innings swung it. We must pressure them longer, especially in the powerplay.”
Sunday’s final marks the first Pakistan-India Asia Cup final in the tournament’s 41-year history. Hesson stressed mental focus. “We’re staying present, not looking too far ahead,” he said. “This was always the goal. We’ve beaten teams we hadn’t in years and won the tri-series before this. Wins like today, when you’re written off early, build confidence.”
Off-field tensions have added spice to the build-up. On Friday, the International Cricket Council (ICC) sanctioned Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf and opener Sahibzada Farhan for gestures during the Super Four match against India, ESPNcricinfo reported.
Rauf, fined 30 percent of his match fee, responded to Indian fans’ heckling with a “6-0” gesture and actions mimicking an aircraft’s downing, referencing recent India-Pakistan military tensions. Farhan, who mimicked a gunshot celebrating his fifty, received a warning.
The sanctions follow an earlier ICC ruling against India captain Suryakumar Yadav, fined 30 percent of his match fee for comments after the September 14 group-stage win, linking the victory to victims of April’s Pahalgam attack, which killed 24 and sparked a brief military escalation.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a complaint, demanding a Level 4 sanction. India has appealed the verdict. As Pakistan brace for a formidable India side, Hesson acknowledged the challenge. “They’re the world’s top team for a reason,” he said. “That’s what we’re up against.”
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