Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson says his side still have their best cricket to come as they prepare for Saturday’s ODI tri-series final against Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
The title match is due to begin at 1pm local time, with the toss set for 12.30pm. Pakistan were the first team to book a place in the final after winning their opening three games of the tournament.
How Pakistan reached the final
The hosts opened with a 37-run win over Sri Lanka at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium, then beat England by 87 runs at the same ground. In their first match at Gaddafi Stadium they scraped home by one wicket, with Shadab Khan’s first ODI hundred carrying them through a tough chase against England.
That unbeaten run ended in the last league fixture, when Sri Lanka won by eight wickets. After a rest day, Pakistan returned to training at the LCCA Ground in Lahore ahead of the final.
What Hesson told PCB Digital
Speaking during that session, Hesson said he was pleased with the results but clear that performances had not been consistently at the highest level.
“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,” he said. “I still don’t think we have played our best game yet. Hopefully, we are saving that for the final.”
Since taking charge as Pakistan’s white-ball head coach last year, Hesson has overseen 12 victories from 19 ODIs, with seven defeats in that stretch.
Top order under the spotlight
Hesson backed Pakistan’s experienced batters at the top of the order for the final and argued that winning without major scores from several seniors showed depth.
“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,” he said. He added that securing wins without the top order firing as well as it can was “a good sign,” while noting that some key players are still hunting a match-winning performance.
Timeline: what has happened so far
- League opener: Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 37 runs at Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
- Same venue: Pakistan defeated England by 87 runs.
- Gaddafi Stadium: Pakistan beat England by one wicket; Shadab Khan scored his maiden ODI century.
- Final league match: Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by eight wickets.
- After a rest day: Pakistan trained at the LCCA Ground in Lahore.
- Saturday 31 October: ODI tri-series final against Sri Lanka at Gaddafi Stadium (1pm local; toss 12.30pm).
Aasan alfaaz mein
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson kehte hain team ne abhi tak apni best cricket nahi kheli. Shanivaar Lahore mein Sri Lanka ke khilaf ODI tri-series final hai, 1 baje din. Pakistan pehle teen match jeet kar final mein pahunchi thi, lekin aakhri league match Sri Lanka se haar gayi. Hesson umeed karte hain bari match mein senior batsman aage aayein.
