Pakistan will face archrival India in the Asia Cup final. This long-awaited rerun has created more than just buzz, it’s ignited I dare say the worst on-field confrontation between the two cricketing competitors. The date of the final match is approaching quickly. Pakistan’s Super Four stage 11-run victory over Bangladesh was far from a foregone conclusion. This victory thrust Pakistan into the finals. The truth is that they are under huge pressure as they have been thrashed in their past matches against India.
In their previous two encounters in this Asia Cup though, India looked far superior. They started on a high note with a seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their opening Group A fixture. Pakistan’s batting crumbled under pressure and they could only manage 127 runs for nine wickets. In the Super Four stage, India beat Pakistan again, this time by six wickets. Abhishek Sharma was unperturbed and led the charge with an impressive 39-ball knock of 74 as India chased down a target of 172 runs comfortably.
The Pakistan team, under the stewardship of head coach Mike Hesson, know the task that lies before them. Hesson, meanwhile, played up the need to focus on the cricket. He implored his players to look beyond the bad blood from their first matches. The matches have been characterized by obscene gestures and a torrent of smears. These tensions have inhibited relation-building on the field. After each of the last two games, players from both teams refused to exchange postgame handshakes, adding fuel to the rivalry fire.
Hesson stated, “Look, my message to the players is just focus on cricket and that certainly we will be doing. In terms of gestures there has always been passion in terms of high-pressure games.” He recognised the need for his side to put the Indians under pressure if they are to stand a chance of winning. “We have to put them under pressure and that will be our challenge,” he added.
Tension between the teams reached a boiling point during their previous meeting. Pakistan opener Sahibzada Farhan and pacer Haris Rauf took it up a notch with aggressive gestures in aggrandizement of the conflict. Hesson reflected on their previous performances against India, noting, “The first game was a bit passive. We allowed India to control the game.” He expressed confidence that the team has learned from past mistakes, stating, “The last match we had that game by the scruff of the neck for long periods.”
As defending champions of the Asia Cup, India will be looking to keep their successful run against rivals Pakistan intact. Although surprised, Hesson admitted that his team deserves to be where they earned a final spot. He shared his aspirations of a stellar performance. “We have deserved this opportunity, so it’s now up to us to make the most of it,” he concluded.
