Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has said that "India are the benchmark" when it comes to white-ball cricket. The statement came during a pre-departure camp for the Asian Games, where Pakistan is one of the four seeded teams along with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. All four seeded teams will start their campaign in the quarter-finals. Pakistan is coming off a Test series whitewash against England in England, along with tour drama that involved seven players being dropped after the second Test and red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul being sacked.<h2>Pak coach Hesson sets India as benchmark in white-ball cricket</h2>"India are the benchmark in terms of white-ball cricket at the moment, and our challenge is to catch up to that," Hesson said at the training camp while talking to reporters.Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ipl-2027-mini-auction-to-be-held-in-goa-in-december-confirms-bcci-secretary-saikia-1790220012165">IPL 2027 mini-auction to be held in Goa in December, confirms BCCI secretary Saikia</a>"We are preparing as best as we can and if we get an opportunity to play [India], we will certainly put them under pressure as we were able to do in the final of the Asia Cup. There is a lot of cricket to be played between now and the final for both sides, so we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves."In the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan won matches against all teams but lost to India three times, including in the final."We have lost to India on multiple occasions, and that is the benchmark for all the Pakistani teams, we understand that," acknowledged Hesson.<h2>Asian Games men's cricket schedule</h2>The four seeded teams—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—will start their campaign on September 28 in the quarter-finals. Pakistan will face the runners-up of Group B, which consists of Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Japan, on September 28 in the first quarter-final. &nbsp;Pakistan squad for Asian Games men's cricketSahibzada Farhan (capt), Abdul Samad (vice-capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson called India the benchmark ahead of the Asian Games quarter-finals on Sep 28. Pakistan enter the tournament following a 3-0 Test series defeat to England.

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson has said that "India are the benchmark" when it comes to white-ball cricket. The statement came during a pre-departure camp for the Asian Games, where Pakistan is one of the four seeded teams along with India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. All four seeded teams will start their campaign in the quarter-finals. Pakistan is coming off a Test series whitewash against England in England, along with tour drama that involved seven players being dropped after the second Test and red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed and bowling coach Umar Gul being sacked. Pak coach Hesson sets India as benchmark in white-ball cricket "India are the benchmark in terms of white-ball cricket at the moment, and our challenge is to catch up to that," Hesson said at the training camp while talking to reporters. Also Read - IPL 2027 mini-auction to be held in Goa in December, confirms BCCI secretary Saikia "We are preparing as best as we can and if we get an opportunity to play [India], we will certainly put them under pressure as we were able to do in the final of the Asia Cup. There is a lot of cricket to be played between now and the final for both sides, so we are not getting too far ahead of ourselves." In the Asia Cup last year, Pakistan won matches against all teams but lost to India three times, including in the final. "We have lost to India on multiple occasions, and that is the benchmark for all the Pakistani teams, we understand that," acknowledged Hesson. Asian Games men's cricket schedule The four seeded teams—India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka—will start their campaign on September 28 in the quarter-finals. Pakistan will face the runners-up of Group B, which consists of Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Japan, on September 28 in the first quarter-final. Pakistan squad for Asian Games men's cricket Sahibzada Farhan (capt), Abdul Samad (vice-capt), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

Pakistan white-ball coach Mike Hesson called India the benchmark ahead of the Asian Games quarter-finals on Sep 28. Pakistan enter the tournament following a 3-0 Test series defeat to England.

'India benchmark for all Pakistani teams,' says head coach Mike Hesson ahead of Asian Games

Pakistan's wholesale squad changes after defeat in the second of three England Tests even left skipper Babar Azam surprised. The Pakistan skipper, speaking on the eve of the third Test, which begins September 9 at Edgbaston, answered some difficult questions after the mid-tour drama. Pakistan, after losing the first two Tests, sent seven players back home and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. Misbah-ul-Haq, one of the selectors, resigned amid the chaos, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also announced an inquest into player behavior and conduct.<h2>Babar Azam says he was blindsided by PCB's wholesale changes</h2>Babar said he found out about the squad changes after the PCB had made them—and not before, as should have been the case given he is the skipper. "It was news to me. I found out after. The PCB decided it, so they'll be able to explain better."Also Read - <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/joe-root-defends-pakistan-disrespectful-lack-of-fight-criticism-1788878363554">‘Disrespectful’: Joe Root defends Pakistan against ‘lack of fight’ criticism</a>On why the PCB decided to go this route mid-tour, Babar said: "The PCB's decision must have been taken after some thought process. It's better if you ask them why."The PCB appointed white-ball coach Mike Hesson as Sarfaraz's replacement for the third Test, which Babar says is an opportunity for the new players. Notably, five of the seven replacement players announced by the PCB have not played a single Test."The series is lost, but we have nothing to lose. We should play freely and believe in ourselves as a team. We've practiced for a couple of days and explained things to the new boys. Any young player who comes in is excited, and that excitement is visible. I believe that will be visible in the match, too," said the skipper.<h2>Pakistan in WTC 2025–27</h2>Pakistan are currently at the bottom of the <a href="https://www.icc-cricket.com/tournaments/world-test-championship/standings">World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27</a> cycle's points table. The Asian team have played eight Tests in the cycle, winning only two of them and losing the remaining six. The third Test, even if Pakistan manage to win, won't really help them with their aspirations of playing in the WTC final, for which they are very much out of the race.

Babar Azam admitted being blindsided after Pakistan sacked their coaches, sent seven players home, and brought in five uncapped recruits amid mid-tour chaos following back-to-back Test losses to England.

Pakistan's wholesale squad changes after defeat in the second of three England Tests even left skipper Babar Azam surprised. The Pakistan skipper, speaking on the eve of the third Test, which begins September 9 at Edgbaston, answered some difficult questions after the mid-tour drama. Pakistan, after losing the first two Tests, sent seven players back home and sacked red-ball head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed as well as bowling coach Umar Gul. Misbah-ul-Haq, one of the selectors, resigned amid the chaos, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) also announced an inquest into player behavior and conduct. Babar Azam says he was blindsided by PCB's wholesale changes Babar said he found out about the squad changes after the PCB had made them—and not before, as should have been the case given he is the skipper. "It was news to me. I found out after. The PCB decided it, so they'll be able to explain better." Also Read - ‘Disrespectful’: Joe Root defends Pakistan against ‘lack of fight’ criticism On why the PCB decided to go this route mid-tour, Babar said: "The PCB's decision must have been taken after some thought process. It's better if you ask them why." The PCB appointed white-ball coach Mike Hesson as Sarfaraz's replacement for the third Test, which Babar says is an opportunity for the new players. Notably, five of the seven replacement players announced by the PCB have not played a single Test. "The series is lost, but we have nothing to lose. We should play freely and believe in ourselves as a team. We've practiced for a couple of days and explained things to the new boys. Any young player who comes in is excited, and that excitement is visible. I believe that will be visible in the match, too," said the skipper. Pakistan in WTC 2025–27 Pakistan are currently at the bottom of the World Test Championship (WTC) 2025–27 cycle's points table. The Asian team have played eight Tests in the cycle, winning only two of them and losing the remaining six. The third Test, even if Pakistan manage to win, won't really help them with their aspirations of playing in the WTC final, for which they are very much out of the race.

Babar Azam admitted being blindsided after Pakistan sacked their coaches, sent seven players home, and brought in five uncapped recruits amid mid-tour chaos following back-to-back Test losses to England.

'Ask them why': Pak skipper Babar Azam on PCB's wholesale changes after Lord's defeat

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'India benchmark for all Pakistani teams,' says head coach Mike Hesson ahead of Asian Games

'Ask them why': Pak skipper Babar on PCB's wholesale changes after Lord's defeat