Pakistan must 'focus on job' in highly charged India clash, says coach
Coach Mike Hesson has told his Pakistan team to "focus on the job" in Sunday's highly charged Asia Cup clash with arch-rivals India.
Coach Mike Hesson has told his Pakistan team to "focus on the job" in Sunday's highly charged Asia Cup clash with arch-rivals India.
Captain Litton Das produced a match-winning knock to steer Bangladesh to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Hong Kong in their Asia Cup opener at the Zayed Cricket Stadium in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
To overcome their long-standing power-hitting deficiency, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) appointed English coach Julian Ross Wood ahead of the Asia Cup.
Kuldeep Yadav returned figures of 4-7 to lead holders India to a crushing nine-wicket win over hosts United Arab Emirates in their opening match of the Asia Cup on Wednesday.
Bangladesh enter the Asia Cup on the back of three straight T20I series victories against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. With Litton Das leading the side, expectations among the fans are understandably high.
Azmatullah Omarzai hammered a 20-ball fifty as Afghanistan thrashed Hong Kong by 94 runs in the opening match of the Asia Cup on Tuesday.
The 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup is expected to take place from February 7 to March 8, according to ESPNcricinfo, with India and Sri Lanka serving as co-hosts. A total of 20 teams will feature in the event.
Hong Kong campaign kicks off against Afghanistan, opening this year’s Asia Cup today. Notably, the team had not held any official press conference beforehand. At the request of journalists traveling from Bangladesh, Hong Kong’s Nizakat Khan finally spoke to the press.
Ahead of leaving the country for the Asia Cup, Jaker Ali declared that Bangladesh is heading into the tournament with the ambition of winning the title. On the official opening day of the Asia Cup, Litton Das echoed the same sentiment; Bangladesh will keep their eyes on the trophy.
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson believes his team's victory in a tri-series tournament with Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates will serve as a "confidence builder" for the Asia Cup starting in Abu Dhabi on Tuesday.
The Asia Cup is back, kicking off on September 9, 2025, in the UAE, marking its return in the T20 format after three years. Defending champions India, who clinched the 50-over title in 2023, will try to extend their dominance, while Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and Bangladesh chase a much-needed redemption. All matches start at 6:30 pm local time (8:30 pm Bangladesh time).
Bangladeshi umpires Masudur Rahman and Gazi Sohel have been appointed to officiate in the upcoming Asia Cup, with Masudur taking charge as an on-field umpire in the much-anticipated India-Pakistan group-stage clash.