Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson called on his players to focus on cricket when they face India in the Asia Cup final on Sunday, after the previous two meetings between the sides caused tensions to run high.

Pakistan set up a first meeting with India in an Asia Cup final following a hard-fought 11-run win over Bangladesh in a Super Four match in Dubai on Thursday.

Hesson played down the bitterness that marred the past two India-Pakistan matches in this edition of the Asia Cup – their first meetings since May’s military conflict between the two countries.

“Look, my message to the players is just focus on cricket and that certainly we will be doing. In terms of gestures there has always been passion in terms of high-pressure games,” said New Zealander Hesson.

India refused to shake ha

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