Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has sent a clear message to his team ahead of their first-ever Asia Cup final clash against archrivals India: “Just focus on the cricket.”

Speaking after Pakistan’s crucial 11-run victory over Bangladesh on Thursday, which secured their spot in the final against the Men in Blue, Hesson emphasized the importance of keeping emotions in check. “I deal with the cricket side. There has always been passion in high-pressure games, but our focus will be on playing a good game,” he said.

The Super Four encounter between India and Pakistan on Sunday generated controversy off the field. Haris Rauf’s gestures to fans and Sahibzada Farhan’s gunshot celebration were widely criticized, prompting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to file a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC). A hearing is expected to take place on Friday.

While the final will be a one-off battle deciding the Asia Cup champion, India and Pakistan have had contrasting journeys throughout the tournament. India has been dominant, whereas Pakistan has had to stage dramatic comebacks to win its last two Super Four matches against Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Hesson believes this resilience is a key strength. “When you win games like these, especially when everyone writes you off early, it builds confidence within the group,” the Kiwi coach said after the win over Bangladesh.

In both their previous Asia Cup meetings in the UAE, India has come out on top.

In the match against Bangladesh, Pakistan was reduced to 33 for four early on. However, valuable contributions from Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, and Shaheen Afridi helped the team post a competitive total of 135 for eight. Pakistan’s bowling was sharp from the start, never allowing Bangladesh to gain a foothold.

“We were far from perfect — we realized that in the first 10 overs — but there is a huge amount of character in this team,” Hesson said. “This team is incredibly proud to represent Pakistan. Every player believed we could fight our way back. We don’t want to be 4/33 every time, but winning from that position shows the group’s character.”

Batting conditions have been challenging, and Hesson admits the top order needs to improve. Against Sri Lanka, Pakistan’s batting also collapsed early, leaving all-rounders Hussain Talat and Nawaz to rescue the innings.

“If we’re searching for perfection with the bat on these pitches, we won’t find it. We need better contributions from the top order. Every time we tried an aggressive shot today, we lost our wicket,” Hesson noted, questioning the decision-making in the top order.

Pakistan has now lost its last seven international matches against India. Hesson believes breaking this streak requires sustained pressure on the Men in Blue.

“Our performance in the last game against India was a big improvement from the first. Initially, we were passive and allowed India to control the game. But in the last match, we had
them under pressure for long periods. It took an exceptional innings from Abhishek Sharma to turn the tide. We must be good enough to maintain that pressure,” he said.

In that last match, Pakistan was cruising at 91 for one after 10 overs before the middle order faltered, ending with 171 in 20 overs. The bowlers made some breakthroughs after the Powerplay but it was too late.

Now, Pakistan aims to set things right in their third encounter — a match Hesson calls “the only one that counts.”

“We’ve earned this opportunity, and now it’s up to us to make the most of it. The only match that really matters is the one at the end,” the coach concluded.