Cameos from Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad powered Pakistan to a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their Asian Games 2026 semifinal clash at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. In a match shortened to 13 overs per side due to a wet outfield, Pakistan were in a shaky spot at 53/4 in pursuit of 112, but Nawaz (30* off 15) and Samad (27* off 22) steered them home with nine balls to spare. The result took Pakistan to the final of the men’s cricket event at the Asian Games for the very first time.
Pakistan’s chase began precariously as they lost skipper Sahibzada Farhan in the opening over. Maaz Sadaqat, who made heads turn in the recent Caribbean Premier League season, got off to a flyer and struck a six and a four in the second, but departed in the same over as his innings was cut to a seven-ball 15. Mahedi Hasan kept things tight at his end but the same could not be said about Mustafizur Rahman, who was greeted with two sixes and a four by Saim Ayub, even as the seamer had the last laugh and had Ayub picking out deep mid-wicket.
The surface had enough purchase on offer for the spinners and Rishad Hossain made full use of it. He beat the bat consistently and proved unplayable, leaving Pakistan in a spot of bother once he dismissed Usman Khan and sent the asking rate up. Nawaz got to work though, smashing a couple of meaty blows off Nasum Ahmed before Samad took matters into his hands. He ruined a tight Shoriful Islam over by lapping him to the fine leg fence, bringing the equation down to 36 off the last four overs.
Mustafizur then came in for some severe punishment, dishing out too many freebies that Samad laid into. The right-hander dispatched a slot delivery over the long-on fence, before more frustration for the bowling side saw an inside edge evade a diving Litton Das behind the stumps. Samad remained unfazed though, picking up three more fours to cap off a 23-run over that shut the door on Bangladesh. Rishad had an over left up his sleeve but was bizarrely held back for the penultimate over, by which time the game was in the bag for Pakistan. Nawaz then sealed the chase with a boundary off the leggie.
Earlier, Pakistan’s bowlers struck regularly and predominantly bowled spin to cater to the demands of the surface after opting to field first. Saif Hassan and Tanzid Hasan Tamim picked up a six apiece in the first two overs before the latter perished as he attempted another big shot. Ayub, who conceded just three runs off his two overs, bowled Litton on the reverse-sweep with a carrom ball. Arafat Minhas then bagged his second as Parvez Hossain Emon holed out to deep square leg.
Abrar Ahmed proved expensive and Bangladesh duly took full toll of deliveries pitched in their wheelhouse. Saif first broke free with a six while Towhid Hridoy slog-swept one over deep mid-wicket in the same over. Saif was then trapped in front by Sufyan Moqim and although Mosaddek Hossain battled along at a sluggish tempo, Hridoy swung momentum Bangladesh’s way with a 25-ball 42.
He expertly dabbed Moqim past short third and followed it up with a six over mid-wicket, while a slot delivery from Mohammad Wasim also traveled over long off. Hridoy then piled more misery on Abrar with a four and a six, although Moqim struck twice in the penultimate over to dismiss him and Mosaddek. Mahedi then added a boundary in the last over as Pakistan’s lack of control in the second half – reflecting in 15 wides for the innings – meant that Bangladesh finished with 111.
Brief Scores: Bangladesh 111/7 in 13 overs (Towhid Hridoy 42, Saif Hassan 19; Sufyan Moqim 3-26, Arafat Minhas 2-23) lost to Pakistan 112/4 in 11.3 overs (Abdul Samad 30*, Hasan Nawaz 27*, Saim Ayub 21; Rishad Hossain 1-12) by 6 wickets
