Pakistan batter Hasan Nawaz said small mistakes cost his team the Asian Games cricket final against India, a match Pakistan lost by 19 runs last week in Japan. Nawaz, who top-scored with 96 in the final, described his disappointment at not securing the gold medal and reflected on how those errors ultimately decided the match.
“I am still disappointed and hurt at not being able to win the final. We made small mistakes and we paid the price for it,” Nawaz told the media, as reported by PTI. Facing India, the world’s top-ranked side, was always going to be a challenge, he added, but he believed Pakistan had a real chance.
Nawaz said he was satisfied with his own innings, which came after a period sidelined from international cricket. “To make a comeback with a good innings against India was very satisfying individually for me,” he said. His 96 was an important contribution but not enough to secure victory during the chase.
He explained that Pakistan lost momentum as the match progressed. “I was playing according to calculation 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. The final overs proved costly as India held on to their lead.
The left-hander also spoke about the ongoing rivalry between the two countries and how Pakistani players approach matches against India. “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,” he said.
Nawaz made his international debut earlier this year with a century in a T20I against New Zealand. He attributed much of his recent form to playing grassroots cricket, which helped him develop his skills in challenging conditions. “I think the bowlers and pitches you get in these matches help you become a better player in difficult conditions. When you bat in better conditions in international cricket it helps your confidence,” he said.
The Asian Games final was a high-profile encounter, with India claiming the men’s cricket gold medal and Pakistan finishing as runners-up. Nawaz’s performance stood out in a tense match that proved to be a narrow defeat for Pakistan.
Despite the loss, Nawaz’s focus is on learning from this experience as Pakistan aims to improve for future contests. The match, played on a prominent international stage, offered a chance for several players to test themselves against one of the strongest teams in the world.
Hasan Nawaz’s remarks came shortly after the final and reflect a candid assessment of where Pakistan fell short. His 96 remains a highlight for the team, even as they acknowledge the small errors that ultimately cost them the title.
According to Yahoo Sports.