Pakistan reach Asian Games cricket final: the partnership that changed the chase

Pakistan beat Bangladesh by six wickets in the Asian Games men’s cricket semi-final at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on October 1, 2026, securing a place in the gold-medal match. After rain had determined their quarter-final progress, this time Pakistan settled qualification with a successful chase.

The turning point came with Pakistan needing 36 from four overs. They took 23 off Mustafizur Rahman in the tenth: after Hasan Nawaz’s opening single, Abdul Samad struck a six and four consecutive fours. That left just 13 needed from 18 balls.

How Pakistan beat Bangladesh in 13 overs

A wet outfield reduced the semi-final to 13 overs per side. Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan won the toss and chose to bowl. Bangladesh finished on 111 for seven; Pakistan reached 112 for four in 11.3 overs, according to the PCB’s semi-final score summary. Nine legal deliveries remained unused.

Pakistan’s start gave Bangladesh opportunities. Farhan fell for one in the opening over with the total on six. Maaz Sadaqat hit 15 from seven balls before departing, while Saim Ayub made 21 from 12 before Mustafizur dismissed him.

Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad’s decisive partnership

Their unbeaten fifth-wicket stand occupied 32 balls, Hum News reports. Samad finished on 30 from 15 deliveries, including five fours and a six. Hasan remained unbeaten on 27 from 22, with two fours and two sixes, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board.

The PCB and Cricbuzz match reports identify the tenth over as the decisive acceleration. Before it, Pakistan needed nine runs an over across the final four overs. After Samad’s sequence of boundaries, the remaining requirement was 13 from three overs, and the pair completed the chase in the twelfth.

How Bangladesh recovered from 21 for three

Bangladesh had also needed a recovery. Arafat Minhas removed Tanzid Hasan after an opening partnership of 17, Saim bowled captain Litton Das for two, and Minhas dismissed Parvez Hossain Emon for one. Those wickets left Bangladesh 21 for three.

Towhid Hridoy led the response with 42 from 25 balls, hitting four sixes and two fours. Saif Hassan contributed 19 from 17 deliveries before Sufyan Moqim dismissed him. Hridoy then shared a fifth-wicket partnership of 53 with Mosaddek Hossain, who made 11 from 16 balls.

Moqim dismissed both Hridoy and Mosaddek late in the innings and finished with three wickets for 26 from three overs. Minhas took two wickets. Saim’s contribution was particularly economical: his two overs cost just three runs and brought Litton’s wicket.

What Litton Das said about Mustafizur and the rain

Mustafizur finished with one wicket for 41 runs from two overs, according to Cricbuzz’s post-match reporting. Litton defended his decision to use him, telling reporters: “I felt Mustafizur was the best option, so I went with him.” Atif Azam reported the remarks for Cricbuzz.

Litton also said Bangladesh could have given themselves a better chance by bowling better in the middle overs and conceding fewer sixes. He credited Hridoy and the partnership with Mosaddek for restoring the innings after the early wickets.

Preparation had been disrupted, too. Litton said rain had kept the players in their hotel rooms and prevented planned practice. Without recent play or practice on the wicket, he said, the batters lacked a reference point for reading the conditions. Bangladesh’s quarter-final against Malaysia had been washed out, making this their first game of the event, Cricbuzz reported.

What changed after Pakistan’s quarter-final washout

NewsJaws previously explained why Pakistan and Bangladesh reached the semi-final without quarter-final wins. The new development is a completed contest: Pakistan have now won the match that decides their place in the final.

Who Pakistan play in the Asian Games final

Hum News reports that India beat Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the other semi-final, dismissing Sri Lanka for 45 in a chase of 170. Its report identifies India as Pakistan’s opponent in the gold-medal match scheduled for Saturday, October 3.