Hesson Yet to Decide Playing XI for Oman Opener

DUBAI: Mike Hesson, the white-ball head coach for the Pakistan men’s cricket team, outlined his strategy on Thursday for the highly anticipated ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 match against India. His primary objective is to ensure players remain focused on ‘the task at hand’.

The high-stakes contest between these two rivals is slated to occur at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium this Sunday.

India, the former champions, come into this match following an impressive nine-wicket victory over the UAE, while Pakistan is still awaiting the start of their campaign.

The Green Shirts are scheduled to face Oman in their inaugural Asia Cup 2025 match this Friday. During a press conference held before the fixture, Hesson mentioned that the team’s playing XI is still to be determined, emphasizing the importance of analyzing the pitch.

“We are yet to finalize the XI. A key part of this decision-making process involves assessing the wicket, which I did earlier today. The conditions here are significantly different from those in Sharjah, especially concerning the grass’s surface,” Hesson stated.

The Pakistan head coach then shared his enthusiasm about participating in such a high-intensity event. He added that his focus would be on maintaining the team’s concentration on their assigned roles against India, acknowledging their ‘high confidence’ due to their recent strong performances in the format.

“I’ve watched numerous matches from a distance and provided commentary. Now, being directly involved in such a charged atmosphere is truly exciting,” Hesson commented.

“From my viewpoint, similar to any major final or global event, the key is to keep everyone’s attention directed toward the immediate job. This weekend will be no different. We recognize that India is very confident, and justifiably so, given their excellent performance,” he concluded.