Hassan Nawaz's innings earns praise despite Pakistan's loss to India

During the 2026 Asian Games final against India, Pakistani batsman Hassan Nawaz delivered a standout performance, scoring 96 runs off 51 balls, including seven sixes and five boundaries. Despite his aggressive innings, Pakistan fell short, scoring 192 runs in pursuit of India's target.

Former Pakistani cricketers have reacted to the match with mixed sentiments. Shahid Afridi praised Nawaz’s performance, describing it as ‘absolute quality’ and a ‘gold medal-worthy innings,’ while encouraging the team to maintain their fighting spirit. Mohammad Yousuf also lauded Nawaz for maintaining his international form and noted positive progress across various aspects of the game.

However, former captain Mohammad Hafeez criticized the team's tactical decisions. He noted that certain strategic errors undermined the team's overall efforts, stating that such mistakes are often unacknowledged, which ultimately hindered the team's ability to secure the win.