Pakistan settle with bronze at 2026 Women’s Asian Games with 31-run win over Bangladesh

Pakistan women‘s cricket team claimed the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games by defeating Bangladesh by 31 runs in the third-place playoff at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Japan on September 22, 2026.

Pakistan posted 145/8 in their 20 overs and then restricted Bangladesh to 114/7 in 20 overs to seal the result. The victory marks Pakistan’s first Asian Games women’s cricket medal since 2014, ending a 12-year wait for a podium finish.

The result also avenged a painful chapter from the previous edition. Pakistan had lost the bronze medal match to Bangladesh at the 2022 Asian Games, which was held in 2023, making this win particularly significant for the side.

How did Pakistan build their total of 145/8?

Pakistan’s innings required a strong recovery after they found themselves in difficulty at 67 for 5. Captain Fatima Sana and Aliya Riaz then combined for a 67-run partnership that proved decisive in lifting the side to a competitive total.

Fatima Sana was the standout batter, scoring 45 off 30 balls to anchor the recovery and provide the innings with its backbone. Gull Feroza also contributed 31 runs earlier in the innings to give Pakistan a reasonable platform before the middle-order wobble.

The final total of 145/8 in 20 overs gave Pakistan’s bowlers a defendable target and reflected the team’s ability to regroup under pressure after losing half their side cheaply.

How did Pakistan’s bowlers contain Bangladesh?

Offspinner Umm-e-Hani was the pick of Pakistan’s bowling attack, returning figures of 3 wickets for 10 runs from 4 overs. Her economical and penetrative spell proved crucial in keeping Bangladesh well short of the target throughout the chase.

Bangladesh’s pursuit was kept alive for a period by Sharmin Akter, who scored 46 runs, and Nigar Sultana, who contributed 25 runs. However, neither partnership could sustain the required run rate against Pakistan’s disciplined bowling attack.

Bangladesh were eventually restricted to 114/7 in 20 overs, falling 31 runs short of Pakistan’s total. The bronze medal confirmed Pakistan’s return to the Asian Games podium for the first time in 12 years, completing a memorable turnaround from their bronze-match defeat to the same opponents at the previous edition.