ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s narrow defeat to India in the Asian Games cricket final on Saturday drew a strong response from fans and former cricketers, with Hasan Nawaz’s blistering 96 emerging as the biggest talking point after the young Pakistan side fought back from a difficult start before falling 19 runs short.
India posted 211 for six at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin before Pakistan, reduced to 39 for three in the seventh over, recovered to 192 for six. Hasan kept the chase alive until the final delivery, scoring 96 from 51 balls with five fours and seven sixes.
🚨 CHIN UP, HASSAN NAWAZ! YOU WON HEARTS TODAY! 🇵🇰🔥
– What an absolute masterclass under pressure! Hassan Nawaz played an unforgettable inning of 96 Runs with 7 Sixes.
– Highest Asian Games T20 Knock for PAK.
– Most sixes by Pakistani batter against India 🔥 pic.twitter.com/t1MPEpbGcL
— M Farhan (@MFarhan1200) October 3, 2026
Hasan Nawaz leads Pakistan fightback
Pakistan’s early batting collapse threatened another one-sided contest, but an 87-run partnership between Hasan Nawaz and Saim Ayub changed the complexion of the chase. Saim made 29 from 22 balls before being dismissed, while Hasan continued his attack and reached his half-century from 28 deliveries.
Hasan Nawaz showing how to bat like a modern T20 no.4 – 7 sixes and 5 fours against a quality attack. The target was always gonna be a big ask for Pak, but good to see some fight.
— Roha Nadeem (@RohaNadym) October 3, 2026
Hasan was eventually caught behind off Shivam Dube from the final ball of the innings, four runs short of what would have been his century. His 96 became the defining individual performance of Pakistan’s innings and kept the team within reach of a challenging target for much of the chase.
Hasan Nawaz is the first ever Pakistan batter to hit 5 sixes against India in a T20I. And his 50 off 28 balls is the second fastest for Pakistan against India in T20Is.
— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) October 3, 2026
Fans on social media highlighted Hasan’s aggressive approach and the determination shown by the young side, particularly after Pakistan slipped to 39 for three. The performance also generated discussion about whether several members of the Asian Games squad could form part of Pakistan’s future T20 plans.
Hasan Nawaz: The Lone Warrior for 🇵🇰
🏏 96 Runs
⚡ 51 Balls
📈 SR 188
🚀 7 Sixes
🔥 5 Fours#AsianGames2026 | #PTVSports pic.twitter.com/pMqJo8eWrm— PTV Sports (@PTVSp0rts) October 3, 2026
Pakistan’s bowling comes under scrutiny
India’s explosive start put Pakistan under immediate pressure, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 from 28 balls and Tilak Varma finishing unbeaten on 51 from just 22 deliveries. India reached 211 for six, the highest total of the men’s Asian Games competition.
Lost match ❎ Winning heart ✅
While others struggled, Hassan Nawaz took the fight straight to the Indian bowlers. Brilliant effort! 🇵🇰 👏 pic.twitter.com/ycYaBLgKas
— THE REAL AB♘🇵🇰 (@ABDULLAHAB_SAYS) October 3, 2026
Pakistan fought back with wickets in the middle overs, with Arafat Minhas taking two for 25 and Ahmed Daniyal two for 43. Abrar Ahmed also conceded only 29 runs in his four overs while taking one wicket.
Read Also: Pakistan Fall 19 Runs Short as India Win Asian Games Cricket Final
However, the early bowling strategy and the use of spin during the powerplay became subjects of discussion among viewers and cricket followers, particularly after India’s top order made a rapid start.
HASSAN NAWAZ, MY BOYYYYY 🔥🔥
Brilliant ability to hit effortless sixes! 😮💨
What a fifty in the final! 👏
The man is definitely ON 🔥🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/7DiRfvIHLF
— Mian Ahmad (@MianAhmad_56) October 3, 2026
Former players, fans focus on young talent
The fight shown by Pakistan’s young team became a major talking point after the final, with Hasan’s innings receiving particular attention. The Pakistan squad had been assembled without several established senior players, including Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Shadab Khan, giving younger players an opportunity on the Asian Games stage.
WHAT A FIGHT FROM HASAN NAWAZ. 🫡
– 96 runs off 50 balls against India in the final while chasing 212. No support from the other end. A lone-warrior knock. 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/IFlSrnO8cp
— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) October 3, 2026
Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi had also previously questioned the absence of Hasan Nawaz from Pakistan’s national setup, naming him among a group of players he felt had been overlooked.
What a knock by Hassan Nawaz! That was absolute quality, a gold medal-worthy innings in every sense. 👏
At the end of the day, India just played better overall cricket and earned the win. Heads up boys, loved the fight! 🇵🇰🏏 #AsianGames
— Shahid Afridi (@SAfridiOfficial) October 3, 2026
“What a knock by Hassan Nawaz! That was absolute quality, a gold medal-worthy innings in every sense,” Afridi wrote on X.
“At the end of the day, India just played better overall cricket and earned the win. Heads up boys, loved the fight!”
Former batter Mohammad Yousuf supported Afridi’s remarks, describing Nawaz’s performance against India as “strong” and praising the batter for maintaining the form he had shown in international cricket.
#HassanNawaz delivered a strong performance, picking up right where he left off in international cricket, Pakistan finding bits and pieces to make it count. #PakvsInd #AsianGames
— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) October 3, 2026
“[Hassan Nawaz] delivered a strong performance, picking up right where he left off in international cricket, Pakistan finding bits and pieces to make it count,” Yousuf wrote on the microblogging website.
The final performance has now put Hasan back in the spotlight, with his 96 adding to the debate over Pakistan’s T20 rebuilding process.
💚 “WE’LL BE BACK STRONGER NEXT TIME!” — HASSAN NAWAZ 🇵🇰🔥
– Hassan Nawaz shares a heartfelt update on his Instagram story after his sensational 96-run masterclass against India in the Asian Games Final!
– A message of pure determination from our rising star! 💚 pic.twitter.com/An02g6zudc
— M Farhan (@MFarhan1200) October 3, 2026
Pakistan ultimately settled for silver after India successfully defended 211, while Sri Lanka secured the bronze medal by defeating Bangladesh in the third-place playoff.
