Asia Cup: Pakistan coach makes bold claim ahead of India clash – ‘Surface doesn’t really matter’ | Cricket News – The Times of India

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson

TimesofIndia.com in Dubai: Pakistan are set to open their Asia Cup marketing campaign in opposition to Oman on Friday, however all eyes are already on Sunday’s marquee clash in opposition to India in Dubai. Head coach Mike Hesson has raised the stakes ahead of the encounter, boldly declaring that Pakistan’s spin arsenal, led by Mohammad Nawaz, would be the defining issue.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Pakistan arrive on the Asia Cup buoyed by their latest T20 Tri-Series triumph, the place they defeated Afghanistan within the ultimate by 75 runs, because of Nawaz’s sensational hat-trick. With sluggish and sluggish pitches within the UAE, spin has grow to be central to Pakistan’s technique.

Speaking on the pre-match press convention on Thursday, Hesson hailed the depth of Pakistan’s bowling sources, making a robust assertion about Nawaz.“When you’ve got wrist spinners like that, it doesn’t really matter about the surface as much. The beauty of our side is we’ve got five spinners. We’ve got Mohammad Nawaz, who’s the best spin bowler in the world at the moment, and he’s been ranked that way over the last six months since he’s come back on the side,” Hesson stated.He additional highlighted the energy in depth, pointing to Salman Ali Agha’s restricted alternatives.“And Salman Ali has hardly bowled, and he’s also the Test spinner for Pakistan. So, we’ve got a lot of spin bowling options, if we think conditions suit that. If we don’t, we’ve got five seamers as well, who allow us to either go for airspeed or change of pace or reverse swing, depending on what the surface provides.”Hesson additionally weighed in on the continuing debate round Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan’s strike charges in T20Is.“Being honest about your assessment of players is important, and coming from a place with no agenda is also important. I haven’t talked about anyone’s frailties. What I’ve alluded to is the way the modern game is played, and the strike rate required in the powerplay is quite different from the past, especially in good conditions.”With Oman first up, Pakistan will look to nice-tune their plans, however Hesson’s bold endorsement of Nawaz and the spin division has already set the tone for the excessive-voltage India clash.