Pakistan have qualified for the gold medal match of the men’s cricket event at the Asian Games 2026, defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in their semifinal at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. The result marks the first time Pakistan have reached the final of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games.
The match was reduced to 13 overs per side owing to a wet outfield. Bangladesh posted 111 for 7 in their allotted overs, and Pakistan reached the target of 112 in 11.3 overs, finishing at 112 for 4 with nine balls to spare.
The chase was anchored by Hasan Nawaz, who remained unbeaten on 27 off 22 balls, and Abdul Samad, who finished on 30 not out. Their unbroken partnership rescued Pakistan from a precarious position of 53 for 4 and carried them into the final.
How did Pakistan’s batting innings unfold?
Pakistan’s chase began on a difficult note. Skipper Sahibzada Farhan was dismissed in the opening over, and Maaz Sadaqat, who had impressed during the recent Caribbean Premier League season, struck a six and a four before departing in the same over for 15 off seven balls.
Saim Ayub then took on Mustafizur Rahman, hitting two sixes and a four off the seamer, but Mustafizur had the last laugh as Ayub was caught at deep mid-wicket. Rishad Hossain proved difficult to handle on a surface that offered purchase to the spinners, and his dismissal of Usman Khan left Pakistan in further trouble.
Nawaz steadied the innings with some forceful hitting off Nasum Ahmed, while Samad took the attack to Shoriful Islam, lapping him to the fine leg fence to bring the equation down to 36 off the last four overs. Mustafizur then conceded a 23-run over as Samad dispatched a slot delivery over long-on and collected three more fours. Nawaz sealed the chase with a boundary off Rishad to complete a six-wicket victory.
How did Bangladesh set their total of 111?
After Pakistan opted to field first, their bowlers struck regularly and relied heavily on spin to suit the conditions. Tanzid Hasan Tamim and Saif Hassan each hit a six in the first two overs, but Tanzid perished attempting another big shot. Saim Ayub, conceding just three runs off his two overs, bowled Litton Das on the reverse-sweep with a carrom ball, and Arafat Minhas claimed his second wicket as Parvez Hossain Emon holed out to deep square leg.
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Towhid Hridoy proved the most damaging Bangladesh batter, scoring 42 off 25 balls. He slog-swept Abrar Ahmed over deep mid-wicket, dabbed Sufyan Moqim past short third, and hit a six over mid-wicket before adding further boundaries off Abrar. A slot delivery from Mohammad Wasim also disappeared over long off. Saif Hassan contributed 19 before being trapped in front by Moqim.
Mosaddek Hossain batted at a slower tempo, and Moqim removed both Hridoy and Mosaddek in the penultimate over to check Bangladesh’s momentum. Mahedi Hasan added a boundary in the final over. Pakistan’s bowlers conceded 15 wides across the innings, which allowed Bangladesh to reach 111 for 7. Moqim finished as the pick of the Pakistan bowlers with 3 for 26, while Minhas took 2 for 23.
