Hesson backs seniors for tri-series final vs Sri Lanka

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has pinned hopes on senior players to step up in the home ODI tri-series final against Sri Lanka, scheduled to be played at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, on Saturday.

Hesson spoke to PCB Digital on the sidelines of the team’s training session at the LCCA Ground in Lahore on Thursday. The Green Shirts booked their spot in the final with a match to spare by registering three consecutive victories.

They started their ODI tri-series campaign with a comfortable 37-run victory over Sri Lanka. They then inflicted a thumping 87-run defeat on England in their subsequent fixture.

Pakistan were tested by England in their second meeting at Gaddafi Stadium, but experienced all-rounder Shadab Khan’s unbeaten century ultimately led them to a thrilling one-wicket victory. Pakistan had been reduced to 154 for nine while chasing 242, before Shadab and Haris Rauf put together an unbeaten 89-run stand to win the match.

The loss that reset the mood

Although the home side suffered a gruelling eight-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in their final league fixture at the same venue, Hesson expressed satisfaction with the team’s performances in the tournament while acknowledging room for improvement.

“It’s been a pretty good couple of weeks. We have played some decent cricket without being perfect. To get three wins in a row without contributions from a few of our key players is a good sign,” Hesson said.

“I still don’t think we have played our best game yet. Hopefully, we are saving that for the final,” he added.

Despite Pakistan’s success in the tournament, the under-firing experienced batters have been an area of concern. Hesson backed them to stand up in the high-stakes fixture, while terming the team’s ability to win without significant contributions from the top order an encouraging sign.

“You are talking about two of the greatest players in Pakistan’s history in the top three. I expect big players to stand up in big games,” Hesson said.

“The fact that we have been able to achieve the wins that we have without the top order performing as well as we know they are capable of is a good sign. A couple of our key players are searching for that match-winning performance, and there’s no better place to do it than in a final.”

Praise for the middle order and bowlers

Hesson specifically praised all-rounder Salman Ali Agha for his consistent performances in the middle order. He also applauded emerging batter Hasan Nawaz for his progress in the assigned role.

“Salman Ali Agha has got the most hundreds of any Pakistan player batting at number five or below in an ODI and probably in half the games that some of the other greats have played. His performance is often underrated,” Hesson said.

“Hasan Nawaz is showing some really good progress. I am really pleased with the way he is developing. When you are a younger player batting in the middle order, you have got to learn how to control the chase, understand risk and manage it. That’s something Hasan is continuing to get better at.”

Hesson also praised the bowling attack, led by captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, whom he credited with providing early breakthroughs. He acknowledged the contributions of pacers Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf, as well as emerging all-rounder Arafat Minhas.

“Shaheen Shah continues to take top-order wickets for us, which is critical,” Hesson said. “Both Naseem and Haris have bowled nicely at times throughout the tournament, while Arafat Minhas, as a young player, is continuing to develop. There are some good signs there.”

Saturday’s final is a rematch of a league fixture Sri Lanka won convincingly. Pakistan’s task is clear: the senior batters Hesson is counting on must produce the performance they have been searching for, and the bowlers must repeat the early breakthroughs that set up the three wins.

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When and where is the tri-series final?

The final between Pakistan and Sri Lanka is scheduled for Saturday at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore.

How did Pakistan reach the final?

Pakistan won three consecutive matches, against Sri Lanka by 37 runs, England by 87 runs, and England by one wicket, before losing their final league fixture to Sri Lanka by eight wickets.

What did Hesson say about the senior batters?

He said two of the greatest players in Pakistan’s history bat in the top three, and he expects big players to stand up in big games.