Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has praised young batter Hasan Nawaz for his performance against India, describing his innings as worthy of a gold medal. The comments were reported in Pakistani media on October 4, 2026, following Nawaz’s impressive display in the cricket contest between the two rivals. Afridi’s reaction has attracted attention because of his experience as an international cricketer and his reputation for speaking openly about Pakistan cricket. His praise also highlights the importance of emerging players delivering under pressure in high-profile matches against India.
What Happened in the Asian Games Cricket Final?
The praise followed the men’s cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games, played on October 3. India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs to win the gold medal, while Pakistan finished with silver. Despite the defeat, Hasan Nawaz delivered one of Pakistan’s most impressive individual performances of the match. His aggressive batting kept the chase alive until the final stages, giving Pakistan a chance to challenge India’s total. Afridi acknowledged India’s stronger overall performance while encouraging Pakistan’s players not to lose heart after the narrow defeat.
Hasan Nawaz’s Match-Winning Attempt
Hasan Nawaz scored 96 runs from 51 balls while Pakistan chased India’s target of 212. His innings included five fours and seven sixes, demonstrating his ability to find boundaries against a challenging target. Pakistan had lost three wickets for 39 runs during the seventh over, leaving the team under significant pressure early in the chase. Nawaz then helped rebuild the innings through an 87-run partnership with Saim Ayub. His contribution brought Pakistan back into contention, although the team eventually finished on 192 for six.
Nawaz was dismissed on the final ball of Pakistan’s innings, just four runs short of a century. His 96-run contribution was particularly important because Pakistan needed to maintain a high scoring rate throughout the chase. While his performance could not secure the gold medal, it demonstrated his ability to compete in a major international final. Afridi’s comments recognised the quality of that effort rather than judging the young batter solely on the final result.
Why Did Shahid Afridi Call Hasan Nawaz’s Innings Worthy of a Gold Medal?
According to a report published by UrduPoint on October 4, Afridi described Nawaz’s innings as exceptional and worthy of a gold medal. The former captain also encouraged the national team after the defeat, saying, “Players should not lose heart. I really liked the way the team competed.” His message reflected the difference between winning a tournament and recognising an individual player’s performance. Although India secured the championship, Nawaz’s aggressive innings gave Pakistan a genuine opportunity to challenge the target.
Afridi’s response is significant because experienced international players understand the pressure associated with India-Pakistan matches. These contests attract considerable attention from supporters, and individual performances are often judged against the result. By praising Nawaz, Afridi highlighted the value of resilience, confidence and attacking intent in difficult situations. His comments also offered encouragement to a team that came close to a major victory but could not complete the chase.
How Did India Defeat Pakistan in the Final?
India scored 211 runs for six wickets in their allotted 20 overs after choosing to bat first. Abhishek Sharma contributed 61 runs from 28 balls, while Tilak Varma remained unbeaten on 51 from 22 deliveries. Their performances helped India establish a demanding target for Pakistan. On the bowling side, Arafat Minhas and Ahmed Daniyal each claimed two wickets for Pakistan, but India still managed to post a total that required a strong response from the Pakistani batters.
Pakistan’s chase began poorly, with three wickets falling for only 39 runs. Nawaz and Saim Ayub then formed an important partnership that restored some momentum. Ayub scored 29 from 22 balls, supporting Nawaz as the required run rate increased. Pakistan continued to fight until the final over, but India’s bowlers held their nerve to secure a 19-run victory. The result gave India the gold medal and left Pakistan with silver, despite Nawaz’s outstanding individual contribution.
What Does Afridi’s Praise Mean for Hasan Nawaz?
Afridi’s comments draw attention to Nawaz’s ability to perform under pressure. Scoring 96 runs in a final against India is a substantial achievement, particularly after the team loses early wickets. The innings showed that Nawaz could combine attacking shots with the responsibility of rebuilding a struggling chase. His performance also gave Pakistan supporters a positive individual display to remember despite the disappointing result. However, praise from a former captain does not automatically guarantee selection, a permanent place in the playing XI or any future team decision.
For Nawaz, the next challenge is to build on this performance through consistent contributions in subsequent matches. A single innings can demonstrate potential, but sustained performances across different opponents and conditions are what help establish a batter’s position in international cricket. His ability to manage pressure, rotate the strike and attack effectively will remain important areas to watch. Afridi’s public support provides encouragement, but Nawaz’s future progress will depend on his performances and the team’s selection requirements.
Shahid Afridi’s Role in Pakistan Cricket
Shahid Afridi is one of Pakistan’s best-known former international cricketers. Recognised for his aggressive batting and leg-spin bowling, he became widely associated with attacking cricket during his playing career. He also captained Pakistan and represented the country in major international tournaments. His experience in high-pressure matches gives his observations about emerging players additional context, particularly when Pakistan faces a major rival such as India.
Afridi has continued to attract attention through his comments on Pakistan cricket after retiring from international cricket. His reactions to team performances and selection decisions regularly feature in sports coverage. In this instance, his response focused on the team’s fighting spirit and Nawaz’s individual achievement rather than placing blame for the defeat. That distinction matters because young players can benefit from constructive recognition after a difficult result, even when the team falls short of its objective.
What Happens Next for Hasan Nawaz and Pakistan?
The immediate takeaway from the Asian Games final is that Pakistan narrowly missed the gold medal despite a strong late challenge. Nawaz’s 96-run innings provided a major highlight, but the team will need to review both its early batting collapse and its inability to complete the chase. India successfully defended its total, while Pakistan must use the experience to improve its performances in future high-pressure contests.
Afridi has not announced any official selection decision concerning Nawaz in the comments reported by the media. His praise should therefore be understood as recognition of the batter’s performance, not confirmation of a new role or guaranteed place in an upcoming squad. For readers following Pakistan cricket, Nawaz’s subsequent performances and any official team announcements will provide a clearer picture of his progress.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What did Shahid Afridi say about Hasan Nawaz?
Shahid Afridi praised Hasan Nawaz’s innings against India in the Asian Games final, describing it as worthy of a gold medal. He also encouraged Pakistan’s players not to lose heart and appreciated the way they competed despite the defeat.
2. How many runs did Hasan Nawaz score against India?
Hasan Nawaz scored 96 runs from 51 balls in the Asian Games men’s cricket final on October 3, 2026. His innings included seven sixes and five fours, keeping Pakistan’s chase alive until the final ball.
3. Did Pakistan win the 2026 Asian Games cricket final?
No. India defeated Pakistan by 19 runs in the men’s cricket final. India scored 211 for six, while Pakistan finished on 192 for six, earning the silver medal.
4. Why was Hasan Nawaz’s innings important?
Nawaz helped Pakistan recover after the team lost three wickets for 39 runs. His 87-run partnership with Saim Ayub brought Pakistan back into contention and gave the team a chance to challenge India’s total.
5. Has Shahid Afridi confirmed Hasan Nawaz’s future selection?
No selection decision was announced in the report covering Afridi’s praise. His comments recognised Nawaz’s performance in the final but did not confirm any future squad position or guarantee further selection.
Conclusion
Shahid Afridi’s praise for Hasan Nawaz has highlighted one of the strongest individual performances in Pakistan’s 2026 Asian Games cricket campaign. Nawaz’s 96 off 51 balls kept Pakistan in contention against India, although the team ultimately lost the final by 19 runs. Afridi acknowledged India’s victory while encouraging Pakistan’s players to remain positive. For Nawaz, the innings represents an important performance to build upon as he continues his cricket career. His future progress will depend on consistency, further opportunities and the team’s official selection decisions.
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