India beat Pakistan by 19 runs to retain Asian Games men's cricket gold
In short
India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men's cricket final in Nisshin, Japan, to defend the title they had won at the Hangzhou Games. India made 211/6, with fifties from Abhishek Sharma (61 off 28 balls) and Tilak Varma (51 not out), while Pakistan were held to 192/6 as Hasan Nawaz made 96 from 51 balls before falling to the final ball of the match.
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India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men's cricket final in Nisshin, Japan, to retain the gold medal they had won at the previous Games. India opted to bat after winning the toss and posted 211/6, with Abhishek Sharma making 61 from 28 balls and Tilak Varma unbeaten on 51, according to Gulf News and The National. The National reported that Pakistan were restricted to 192/6, with Hasan Nawaz making 96 from 51 balls before he was out to the final ball of the match, bowled by Shivam Dube. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
The National said Pakistan slipped to 39-3 after six overs in the chase and that Nawaz kept them in the hunt with an innings containing five fours and seven sixes. Gulf News reported that Nawaz shared an 87-run partnership with Saim Ayub. On India's innings, Gulf News said India added 69 runs in the final four overs, while The National said India scored 100 runs across the first three and last three overs combined and called that the deciding factor. [ 1 , 2 ]
Gulf News said the final was the first meeting between the two teams at the Asian Games and Pakistan's first-ever men's cricket gold-medal match at the Games. It reported that India fielded only one specialist fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, alongside seamer Dube, with spin from Axal Patel, Washington Sundar and Ravi Bishnoi, and that Patel, Dube and Sundar took two wickets each. Pakistan's only specialist pace option was Ahmed Daniyal, with Sufiyan Muqeem and Abrar Ahmed leading the spin attack, Gulf News said. [ 1 ]
The result gave India a second consecutive Asian Games men's cricket title. Gulf News said India won gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, while The National said they won at the 2023 Hangzhou Games. Emirates 24|7 described India as cruising to the win on a converted baseball field and noted the result came two years before cricket returns to the Olympics. It quoted India captain Shreyas Iyer as saying: “A huge occasion when you are playing Pakistan in the final, the whole country is watching and you have that pressure.” [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Why it matters
The win keeps India as Asian Games men's cricket champions and marks the first time the two teams have met at the Games, two years before cricket returns to the Olympic programme, according to Emirates 24|7. The documents describe a single sports result and give no wider political or economic consequences.
Key facts
- India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men's T20 cricket final in Nisshin, Japan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- India opted to bat and posted 211/6, with Abhishek Sharma making 61 from 28 balls and Tilak Varma 51 not out. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Pakistan were restricted to 192/6, with Hasan Nawaz scoring 96 from 51 balls before falling to the final ball. [ 2 ]
- The final was the first meeting between India and Pakistan at the Asian Games, according to Gulf News. [ 1 ]
- India were defending the gold medal they won at the Hangzhou Asian Games. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- Emirates 24|7 reported the match was played on a converted baseball field. [ 3 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the Asian Games men's cricket final. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- India batted first and made 211/6, with Abhishek Sharma scoring 61 off 28 balls and Tilak Varma 51 not out. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Hasan Nawaz scored 96 off 51 balls for Pakistan. [ 1 , 2 ]
- The final was played in Nisshin, Japan. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
- India were defending the gold they had won at a previous Hangzhou Asian Games. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The year of the Hangzhou Asian Games at which India won the previous gold Gulf News says the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, while The National says the 2023 Hangzhou Games.
- Pakistan's final total of 192/6 Only The National states the total; the other documents do not give it.
- Whether India also won the women's cricket gold Only The National says India won both the men's and women's gold medals.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Gulf News publishes its report on India's 19-run win over Pakistan in the Asian Games final. [ 1 ]
- The National publishes its account of the final, including Pakistan's 192/6 and Shivam Dube taking the last wicket. [ 2 ]
- Emirates 24|7 publishes a wider Asian Games report leading on India retaining the cricket title. [ 3 ]