Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson admitted his side “took a little step back” after a crushing 61-run
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson admitted his side “took a little step back” after a crushing 61-run defeat to India, blaming poor decision-making under pressure rather than the toss for the loss.
In a frank post-match assessment, Hesson pointed to two decisive phases: India’s surge in overs 5-8 and Pakistan’s faltering batting powerplay. After opting to bowl first, Pakistan allowed Ishan Kishan to capitalize during the middle overs, plundering 52 runs and shifting the momentum firmly in India’s favour.
However, it was Pakistan’s response with the bat that concerned Hesson the most. Chasing a target he described as 25 runs above par, Pakistan slumped to 38 for 4 in the powerplay. While Saim Ayub was undone by a searing yorker from Jasprit Bumrah, the dismissals of Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha, and Babar Azam were marked by questionable shot selection.
“When the guys are putting you under pressure, are you going to stick to your basics or go away from that?” Hesson said at the press conference. “Today, pressure made us go outside our plans, and that’s something we have to get better at if we want to progress further in this tournament.”
Hesson suggested the magnitude of an India-Pakistan clash may have contributed to his batters overthinking the chase. “When you see a score that’s a little above par, you almost feel like you have to play like a Superman and take the game on earlier than the conditions allow,” he said, adding that several early wickets fell to high-risk strokes ill-suited to the surface.
Despite growing scrutiny over the decision to field first, Hesson defended the call, noting that both teams were inclined to bowl on a soft pitch where the ball spun more in the first innings but skidded on under lights. “There’s nothing wrong with the decision to bowl first. It was about execution,” he said, dismissing comparisons with Australia’s day-game defeat to Zimbabwe earlier in the tournament.
Calling the team “outplayed,” Hesson acknowledged the disappointment in the dressing room but urged his players to regroup quickly. “It’s a pretty disappointed dressing room because they know how much it means to Pakistan. But in tournament cricket, it’s not always going to go your way. Our job is to pick ourselves up.”
Pakistan now face Namibia in their final group-stage match on February 18 at the SSC. A win is essential to avoid slipping behind the USA, who currently sit second behind India on the points table, having completed their four matches.