Pakistan’s men reached the Asian Games 2026 cricket final on Thursday, defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-shortened semi-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.
A wet outfield delayed the start and reduced the contest to 13 overs per side. Bangladesh posted 111 for seven, with Towhid Hridoy top-scoring with 42 off 25 balls including four sixes. Left-arm spinner Sufyan Moqim was Pakistan’s best bowler with three for 26.
Chasing 112, Pakistan lost captain Sahibzada Farhan in the first over but recovered through a decisive 59-run stand between Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad. Samad plundered 23 runs in the 10th over to swing the game and finished 30 not out off 15 balls, while Nawaz ended 27 not out off 22 and sealed the win with a boundary in the 11.3 over.
It was Pakistan’s first match of the tournament — their quarter-final against Hong Kong was washed out — and the victory guarantees at least a silver medal, an improvement on the fourth-place finish at the previous edition.
Pakistan will face India in the gold-medal match on October 3, the first men’s cricket meeting between the two sides at the Asian Games. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will contest the bronze-medal match earlier that day.
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