Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has praised Hasan Nawaz for his outstanding 96-run innings against India in the Asian Games 2026 cricket final, calling the performance “gold medal-worthy.”
Nawaz scored 96 from 51 balls at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, on October 3. His innings included five fours and seven sixes. He came to the crease after Pakistan lost three wickets for 39 runs and helped keep the chase alive.
Pakistan were chasing 212 after India scored 211 for six. Nawaz and Saim Ayub built an 87-run partnership, but Pakistan eventually finished at 192 for six, losing the final by 19 runs and taking the silver medal.
Afridi praised Nawaz in a post on X, saying the batter’s effort was of very high quality. He also told the Pakistani players not to lose heart, adding that India had played better overall cricket.
Nawaz’s 96 is now the highest individual score by a Pakistani batter against India in T20 internationals. He was dismissed on the final delivery, falling just four runs short of a century.
