Pakistan secured a place in the Asian Games 2026 cricket final after defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in the first semi-final. The match was played in Nisshin, Japan, where Pakistan successfully chased the revised target of 112 runs.
Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan won the toss and decided to field first. Due to the wet outfield, the semi-final was reduced to 13 overs per side, making it a shortened contest between the two teams.
Bangladesh scored 111 runs for the loss of seven wickets in their allotted 13 overs. Towhid Hridoy was the leading scorer for Bangladesh, producing a valuable innings of 42 runs to help his team post a competitive total.
Pakistan’s bowling attack performed effectively in the shortened game. Sufyan Moqim claimed three wickets, while Arafat Minhas took two wickets as Pakistan restricted Bangladesh to 111 runs from their 13 overs.
Chasing a target of 112, Pakistan maintained control of the innings despite losing wickets during the run chase. The Pakistani batters continued to score at the required rate and kept the team in a strong position throughout the chase.
Hasan Nawaz remained unbeaten on 27 runs, while Abdul Samad finished not out on 30. Their contributions proved important in the closing stages as Pakistan moved closer to the required total.
Pakistan eventually completed the chase to secure a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh and book their place in the Asian Games 2026 cricket final. The cricket final is scheduled to be played on October 3, when Pakistan will compete for the gold medal.
