Coach Mike Hesson Praises Team After Asian Games Final Qualification
At a glance
- Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by six wickets to reach the Asian Games cricket final.
- Head coach Mike Hesson praised the team's performance, especially under pressure.
- Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad were singled out for their match-winning partnership.
Story so far
Pakistan secured a place in the Asian Games men's cricket final with a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a rain-reduced semi-final. Chasing 112 in 13 overs, Pakistan recovered from 53-4 thanks to an unbeaten 59-run partnership between Abdul Samad (30*) and Hasan Nawaz (27*). Pakistan will play for the gold medal on Saturday against the winner of the India vs. Sri Lanka semi-final.
Latest development
Pakistan's head coach, Mike Hesson, has praised the team's performance after they defeated Bangladesh to reach the Asian Games final. Hesson lauded the bowling, fielding, and the team's ability to handle pressure during the batting innings, calling their finish "outstanding."
Latest updates
Pakistan national cricket team head coach Mike Hesson has expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance following their victory over Bangladesh in the Asian Games semi-final.
Commenting on the win, Hesson praised the team's bowling and fielding efforts. He particularly highlighted how the players handled pressure during the run-chase to secure the win in the rain-shortened 13-over match.
"Our bowling was good, and the fielding was also fine. But the way we finished the game with the pressure on us in the batting innings was outstanding," the head coach said.
Hesson also singled out batters Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad for their strong performances, noting that both players delivered when the team needed them.
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Mike Hesson’s international coaching experience seems to be a key factor. Guiding the team through a tense, rain-shortened chase shows excellent strategic management.
A well-deserved victory after a tense start, and the unbeaten 59-run partnership between Samad and Nawaz was clearly the decisive factor in securing the win.
That 10th over was a masterclass in handling pressure. It’s great to see younger players stepping up and delivering when it matters most.
Bilkul, credit to the batsmen for the chase. Lekin humein bowlers ko bhi appreciate karna chahie, especially Sufyan Moqim, kyun ke unhon ne Bangladesh ko kam score par rok kar match banaya.