Pakistan reach first-ever Asian Games final after defeating Bangladesh

Dubai: Pakistan have secured their place in the inaugural Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final after defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in a rain-affected semi-final in Nisshin, Japan. This marks Pakistan’s first appearance at the Games, following a washed-out quarterfinal against Hong Kong and Bangladesh advancing from theirs against Malaysia due to rain.

The semi-final was truncated to 13 overs per side after delays caused by rain. Bangladesh were limited to 111 for seven, with Sufyan Moqim taking three wickets and Arafat Minhas adding two. Pakistan, set a target of 112, chased down the total after losing four wickets. Abdul Samad was the standout batsman, scoring an unbeaten 30, while Hasan Nawaz contributed 27 runs not out, with Sahibzada Farhan scoring his first victory as captain of the Men in Green.

The triumph also marks Pakistan's first Asian Games medal in men’s cricket since the 2010 bronze in Guangzhou. They previously fell short in the 2023 bronze-medal match against Bangladesh. Pakistan will now square off for the gold medal on October 3 against either India or Sri Lanka, with the second semi-final determining their opponents.