Japan (GNP): Pakistan’s women’s cricket team secured the bronze medal at the 20th Asian Games Aichi-Nagoya 2026 after defeating Bangladesh by 31 runs in the bronze-medal match at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Tuesday.
Pakistan, batting first, posted 145 for eight in 20 overs before producing a disciplined bowling performance that restricted Bangladesh to 114 for seven.
The result put Pakistan on the Asian Games women’s cricket podium for the third time in the event’s history. The Pakistan Cricket Board confirmed the result in its official match report.
Captain Fatima Sana played a central role in Pakistan’s performance, scoring 45 runs from 30 balls and later taking one wicket.
Her innings came at an important stage after Pakistan had lost five wickets for 90 runs, helping the team add 55 runs during the final five overs.Fatima was supported by Aliya Riaz, who scored 25 from 22 deliveries.
The pair produced a 67-run partnership from 43 balls, providing Pakistan with the momentum needed to reach a competitive total.
Pakistan’s innings had begun positively through openers Gull Feroza and Shawaal Zulfiqar, who put together a 46-run opening partnership.
Gull contributed 31 runs from 23 balls, including six boundaries.Bangladesh’s bowling attack subsequently put Pakistan under pressure, taking five wickets for 21 runs.
However, the recovery led by Fatima and Aliya enabled Pakistan to finish with 145 runs.
Bangladesh’s chase began under immediate pressure. Pakistan’s bowlers reduced the opposition to 20 for three after 4.3 overs, making the required target increasingly difficult to achieve.Umm-e-Hani was Pakistan’s leading bowler, finishing with figures of three wickets for 10 runs.
Her spell included a wicket-maiden and helped prevent Bangladesh from establishing the momentum required in the middle overs.
Tasmia Rubab and Nashra Sundhu also contributed wickets, while Saira Jabeen took three catches.
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Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana attempted to rebuild the innings with Sharmin Akhter. The pair helped stabilize the chase, but Pakistan continued to control the required run rate.
Nigar eventually fell for 25, while Sharmin remained unbeaten on 46. Bangladesh ended its 20 overs at 114 for seven, leaving Pakistan with a 31-run victory and the bronze medal.
The medal represents Pakistan’s third medal in women’s cricket at the Asian Games. Pakistan previously won gold medals in the 2010 Guangzhou and 2014 Incheon Games.
The team did not win a medal at the 2022 edition after losing the bronze-medal match to Bangladesh.
Pakistan’s campaign in Aichi-Nagoya began with a quarter-final victory over Thailand on September 17. Pakistan won that rain-affected match by three wickets after chasing Thailand’s revised 92-run target in an 11-over contest.
The team then faced Sri Lanka in the semi-final on September 20. Pakistan scored 177 for four, with Ayesha Zafar making 71 and Shawaal Zulfiqar scoring 54, but Sri Lanka successfully chased the target and won by eight wickets.
That result sent Pakistan into the bronze-medal match against Bangladesh, while Sri Lanka advanced to the gold-medal contest against India.
The Olympic Council of Asia confirmed that cricket was included in the Aichi-Nagoya Games in the T20 format, with both men’s and women’s competitions awarding medals.
The 20th Asian Games are being held in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026. Pakistan’s bronze therefore adds another medal to the country’s Asian Games record and marks a return to the women’s cricket podium after the disappointment of the 2022 tournament.
The performance also highlights the contributions of the team’s captain, batting unit and bowling attack throughout the tournament.
Fatima Sana’s all-round performance in the bronze-medal match and Umm-e-Hani’s three-wicket spell were particularly important in securing the result.
The Pakistan Cricket Board congratulated the team following the victory, while the Pakistan Embassy in Tokyo also highlighted the bronze medal as an achievement for the country.
