Pakistan’s Quest to Close the Gap with India at the 2026 Asian Games Cricket Event

Pakistan’s men’s cricket team, led by head coach Mike Hesson, is preparing for the T20 competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan. Hesson said India is the current “benchmark” in white-ball cricket and described Pakistan’s task as “catching up.” The tournament begins on September 24 with quarter-finals on September 28, a possible India-Pakistan semifinal on October 1, and medal matches on October 3.

Al Jazeera (website)

India entered as defending champions, having won gold at the 2023 Games and back-to-back ICC Twenty20 World Cups. Pakistan, under Hesson since May 2025, has never medaled in Asian Games cricket, losing bronze matches in 2010 and 2023 and missing the 2014 edition. The two sides have met six consecutive times in T20 Internationals, with India winning all, including three meetings in the 2025 Asia Cup final in Dubai.

Al Jazeera (website)'Like we did in the Asia Cup': Pakistan to put India 'under pressure' in Asian Games, says Mike Hesson India are the benchmark, but Pakistan can put them under pressure: Mike Hesson Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson admits India's superiority: ‘They were better than us’ India are benchmark in white-ball cricket, Pakistan need to catch up: Mike Hesson

• India’s recent T20I record vs Pakistan: 6-0 win streak.

India are the benchmark, but Pakistan can put them under pressure: Mike Hesson

• Pakistan’s ICC T20I ranking movement: from 8th to 5th globally, a gain of 30 points since Hesson’s appointment.

India are the benchmark, but Pakistan can put them under pressure: Mike Hesson

• Squad composition: Pakistan’s roster mixes emerging players (e.g., Akif Javed, Ali Raza) with a few experienced figures; the team is captained by Sahibzada Farhan. India is fielding a full-strength side.

India are the benchmark, but Pakistan can put them under pressure: Mike Hesson

Hesson emphasized that India sets the standard for white-ball cricket and that Pakistan must improve to compete. He highlighted the Asian Games as a platform for younger players to gain experience and for Farhan to develop his captaincy.

India are benchmark in white-ball cricket, Pakistan need to catch up: Mike Hesson

• “India are the benchmark in terms of white ball cricket at the moment and our challenge is to catch up to that,” — Mike Hesson

'Like we did in the Asia Cup': Pakistan to put India 'under pressure' in Asian Games, says Mike Hesson

• “When I came in, we were number eight in the world in T20 cricket. We’re now number five in the world, and we’ve gone up 30 points over 15 months,” — Mike Hesson

Hindustan Times

• September 28: Pakistan faces the winner of Pool B (Hong Kong, Oman or Malaysia) in the quarter-final.

Al Jazeera (website)

• October 1: Possible semifinal meeting with India in Nagoya, contingent on both teams reaching that stage.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson admits India's superiority: ‘They were better than us’

• October 3: Medal matches conclude the men’s cricket competition.

India are the benchmark, but Pakistan can put them under pressure: Mike Hesson

The Asian Games will test whether Pakistan can narrow the performance gap with India and showcase its emerging talent on a multi-sport stage.

India are benchmark in white-ball cricket, Pakistan need to catch up: Mike Hesson