Pakistan women beat Bangladesh to win Asian Games cricket bronze

NISSHIN: Pakistan women’s cricket team bounced back from their semi-final defeat in style, defeating Bangladesh by 31 runs to claim the bronze medal at the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday.

Playing the third-place match at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Pakistan produced a disciplined all-round performance to secure a place on the podium after missing out on a spot in the gold-medal contest.

Pakistan, sent in to bat first, posted 145 for eight in 20 overs, with captain Fatima Sana leading from the front. The skipper scored a valuable 45 runs to give her side a competitive total on a challenging surface.

Fatima’s contribution was particularly important as Bangladesh’s bowlers kept Pakistan’s batters under pressure during the innings. The captain’s composed knock helped Pakistan finish strongly and set Bangladesh a target of 146.

The Bangladesh innings never gathered enough momentum during the chase. Pakistan’s bowlers kept taking wickets at crucial stages and restricted Bangladesh to 114 for seven in 20 overs, sealing a 31-run victory and the bronze medal.

The standout performer with the ball was Umm-e-Hani, who delivered an excellent spell of three wickets for just 10 runs. Her figures were also reported as her best in Women’s T20 International cricket.

The medal provides Pakistan with a positive finish to their Asian Games campaign. The team had reached the semi-finals after beating Thailand by three wickets in a rain-affected quarter-final.

Pakistan’s gold-medal hopes ended in the semi-final when Sri Lanka chased down a target of 178 with eight wickets in hand, but the team responded strongly in the bronze-medal match.

The bronze also adds to Pakistan women’s history in Asian Games cricket. The PCB had noted before the tournament that Pakistan had won gold medals in the women’s cricket events at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, while finishing fourth in 2022.

With Fatima Sana’s leadership, a crucial 45-run innings and Umm-e-Hani’s match-winning bowling spell, Pakistan finished their 2026 Asian Games campaign with a medal and a memorable victory over Bangladesh.

The gold-medal match will feature India and Sri Lanka, while Pakistan return home with bronze after successfully fighting back in the third-place playoff.