Watch: 'That's the benchmark' — Mike Hesson praises India ahead of potential IND vs PAK clash at Asian Games 2026

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has praised India ahead of a possible IND vs PAK clash at the Asian Games 2026. He called India “the benchmark” in white-ball cricket and said Pakistan’s challenge is to “catch up” with their arch-rivals.

Hesson said Pakistan are preparing “as best we can” for a possible meeting with India in Japan. However, he also stressed that both teams have to get through the earlier stages before they can face each other.

India and Pakistan are placed on opposite sides of the men’s draw, so they cannot meet in the semi-finals. The two teams could face each other in the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal play-off on October 3, depending on their results. 

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Mike Hesson's praise for India comes ahead of a blockbuster IND vs PAK showdown in Nagoya

Mike Hesson’s praise for India comes ahead of a potential blockbuster IND vs PAK clash at the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya. The Pakistan coach was speaking before the team’s departure for the Games in Japan, with both teams needing to reach the final to meet.

India have won the last six T20I meetings against Pakistan. This includes three wins in the 2025 Asia Cup, with the final being the closest match between the two sides during the tournament.

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Hesson, who is Pakistan’s white-ball coach, had recently been in Japan as part of the team’s preparations for the Asian Games. He was also due to travel to the UK for the squad’s audience with King Charles, which took place on Wednesday. Meanwhile, he was temporarily placed in charge of Pakistan’s Test team for the third Test against England at Edgbaston, which began on September 9.

"That's the Benchmark" — what Hesson actually said about India's dominance and Pakistan's progress

Mike Hesson called India “the benchmark in terms of white-ball cricket at the moment” and said Pakistan’s challenge is to “catch up to them.” The Pakistan coach added, “We are certainly preparing the best we can so that, if we get an opportunity to play [India], you know, we certainly put them under pressure,” referring to their previous Asia Cup meeting.

Pakistan are sending a second-string squad for the Asian Games, with several key players missing. However, Hesson believes the team has enough quality to compete. “This is still a balanced and aggressive team,” he said. He also called the Asian Games “an excellent platform for new and talented players to showcase their abilities” and said it would give Sahibzada Farhan valuable captaincy experience.

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Hesson also defended Pakistan’s progress under his leadership and explained why expectations should remain realistic. “We are not getting too far ahead of ourselves,” he said while discussing the possible India clash. He added that Pakistan had struggled to get through the group stages before he took charge, saying, “It was unrealistic to expect them to start winning trophies” immediately from that position.

What this means for Pakistan's Asian Games 2026 campaign — and a possible India rematch on October 3

Pakistan’s Asian Games 2026 campaign will give several players a chance to prove themselves on a big stage. With a second-string squad selected for the Games, the team will look to make the most of the opportunity and compete for a medal.

A possible India rematch could add more interest to the tournament. However, Pakistan and India are placed on opposite sides of the draw, so they cannot meet in the semi-finals. Both teams must progress through the earlier rounds before a clash becomes possible.

If both teams reach the final, India and Pakistan could meet in the gold-medal match on October 3. A meeting is also possible in the bronze-medal play-off on the same day, depending on their results in the tournament.