New Delhi: Pakistan batter Hasan Nawaz has admitted that the disappointment of losing the Asian Games men’s cricket final against India is still fresh, saying his team paid the price for small mistakes during the run chase.
India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the gold medal match in Japan to claim the top prize. Nawaz was one of Pakistan’s standout performers, scoring 96 in the final, but his impressive innings could not take his side over the line.
Nawaz said he was pleased with his individual contribution but remained frustrated that Pakistan could not complete the chase. He believed the team had a strong chance of winning, particularly with India having limited bowling options towards the end of the innings.
According to Nawaz, Pakistan needed to handle the crucial moments better and avoid mistakes that eventually shifted the match in India’s favour. He also acknowledged the challenge of facing India, describing them as the number one side.
The innings was also personally significant for Nawaz as it marked an encouraging return after spending much of the previous year away from the international setup. He said scoring heavily against India gave him confidence and satisfaction after his comeback.
Nawaz stressed that Pakistan must use the defeat as a learning experience. He believes the team can improve its chances of beating India by identifying mistakes and developing greater composure in high pressure matches.
The young batter, who made headlines with a T20I century in New Zealand in 2024, credited regular grassroots cricket for helping him improve his game. He said exposure to challenging pitches and bowling conditions has helped strengthen his technique and confidence.
With Pakistan’s focus now shifting to upcoming white ball matches against Sri Lanka and England, Nawaz said he intends to maintain his current form while taking each game as it comes.
