Pakistan were unable to win the gold medal in the Asian Games men’s cricket final, as India defeated them to claim the top prize.
Chasing India’s target of 212 runs, Pakistan managed to score 192 runs and secured the silver medal in the men’s cricket event.
Hassan Nawaz was Pakistan’s top scorer with 96 runs, while Saim Ayub contributed 29 runs and Maaz Sadaqat scored 23. Sahibzada Farhan made 10 runs, Usman Khan scored 3, and Abdul Samad added 9 runs.:::
Pakistan began their chase of India’s 212 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final at Korogi Sports Park, with a dismal start, losing three wickets for just 39 runs.
Sahibzada Farhan and Maaz Sadaqat started at the crease, as India’s Jasprit Bumrah opened the bowling with a slip fielder in place.
Pakistan lost their first wicket for 33 runs, with Sahibzada Farhan dismissed after scoring 10 runs. The team suffered another setback at 36 runs when Usman Khan was dismissed for just 3 runs.
The team then immediately lost Maaz Sadaqat, as Washington Sundar caught his strike on Axar Patel’s ball, for just 23 runs.
Batter Hassan Nawaz completed his half-century, reaching the milestone off just 28 balls, providing a crucial boost to Pakistan’s innings.
Pakistan lost its fourth wicket at 126 runs, with Saim Ayub being dismissed after scoring 29 runs off 22 balls. Its fifth wicket fell at 162 runs, when Abdul Samad was dismissed after scoring 9 runs.
India’s target
India have given set Pakistan a target of 212 runs in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final at Korogi Sports Park after posting a strong total.
Abhishek Sharma led the Indian batting effort with a blistering 61 off 28 balls, while Tilak Varma smashed 51 off 22 deliveries to score a rapid half-century.
Shivam Dube contributed 27 runs, while captain Shreyas Iyer added 21 runs to help India reach the imposing total.
For Pakistan, Ahmed Daniyal and Arafat Minhas claimed two wickets each as the bowling attack managed to make breakthroughs during India’s innings.
India had won the toss and elected to bat first against Pakistan. The high-profile gold-medal clash is the first meeting between India and Pakistan in men’s cricket at the Asian Games.
A large number of Pakistani fans were present at the stadium, while Pakistan’s national anthem was played before the match. India are defending their Asian Games men’s cricket title, while Pakistan are seeking their first gold medal in the event.
India’s openers Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Abhishek Sharma began aggressively, putting pressure on Pakistan’s bowling attack early in the innings.
Vaibhav, the 15-year-old batter from Bihar, attacked Saad Masood in the second over, hitting two sixes as India looked to establish a strong platform.
However, Vaibhav’s aggressive approach ended when he attempted a reverse sweep against Saim Ayub. The shot produced an under-edge that went toward wicketkeeper Usman Khan, who fumbled several times before completing the catch.
Vaibhav departed for 15 from nine balls. His dismissal prompted Saim Ayub to celebrate by mimicking a rocking baby, apparently referring to the teenager’s age and his nickname, “Boss Baby.”
Ayub then embraced his teammates as India suffered their first setback. Abhishek Sharma, who was at the non-striker’s end, appeared frustrated by Vaibhav’s shot selection and turned toward the Indian dugout, gesturing for his teammate to leave.
Pakistan bowlers fight back
India continued their innings but began losing wickets as Pakistan’s bowlers found openings.
India lost their fourth wicket at 128 runs when Ishan Kishan was dismissed by Arafat Minhas after scoring 20 runs. The wicket was Minhas’ second of the innings.
India soon lost their fifth wicket at 133. Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed dismissed Indian captain Shreyas Iyer for 21 runs, leaving India under further pressure in the middle overs.
The live score at that stage showed India at 133 for five after 14.1 overs, with Tilak Varma at the crease and Pakistan’s Arafat Minhas and Abrar Ahmed among the wicket-takers.
India vs Pakistan head-to-head
The Asian Games final marks the first-ever meeting between India and Pakistan in men’s cricket at the continental competition.
Overall, the two sides have faced each other 17 times in T20 internationals. India have won 13 of those matches, Pakistan have won three, while one encounter ended in a tie.
India also entered the final having won their previous five meetings against Pakistan, while Pakistan were seeking to reverse that recent record in the gold-medal match.
Playing XIs
India: Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Shreyas Iyer (captain), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah.
Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Saad Masood, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim.
