‘We made small mistakes’ – Hasan Nawaz reflects on Pakistan’s Asian Games final loss to India

India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men’s cricket final on October 3, 2026, at Nisshin. India scored 211 for 6 in their innings, while Pakistan managed 192 for 6 in their chase. The match saw India field a full-strength squad against a second-string Pakistan team.

Hasan Nawaz, Pakistan’s middle-order batter, opened up about the loss five days later. Speaking on Wednesday, October 7, Nawaz expressed his lingering disappointment despite a strong individual performance. He scored 96 off 51 balls before being caught by Samson off Dube’s bowling.

“I am still disappointed and hurt at not being able to win the final. We made small mistakes and we paid the price for them,” Nawaz was quoted as saying by NDTV Sports.

Nawaz’s reflection on the 19-run defeat

Nawaz’s comeback to international cricket had gained momentum following his sidelining for most of the previous year. His performance in the Asian Games final demonstrated his ability to play significant innings under pressure, even though the team fell short of the ultimate objective. The batter expressed satisfaction with his individual contribution despite the team’s loss.

“I am satisfied with my runs, but losing the final was disappointing because I really believed we could win the game. I was batting according to the situation and knew they were one bowler short at the end with just one over from Bumrah remaining. But I think we made some mistakes in the run chase and lost,” Nawaz said.

Satisfaction with personal performance despite team loss

Nawaz had previously scored a T20I century in New Zealand during 2024, marking an important milestone in his international career. His return to form against India in the Asian Games final reinforced his credentials as a middle-order batter capable of building significant innings in high-pressure situations.

“To make a comeback with a good innings against India was very satisfying individually for me,” Nawaz said.

Lessons from the final and future focus

Nawaz reflected on the broader lessons from the tournament and the importance of learning from setbacks. He emphasised that Pakistan would need to address the mistakes that cost them the final and use such experiences to improve their performance in future matches.

“I think the final is over now and cricket and matches will continue. We will also continue to make mistakes, but I think to beat them, we have to learn from our mistakes and become better,” Nawaz concluded.