Pakistan women have secured the bronze medal in the Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket competition after defeating Bangladesh by 31 runs in the third-place playoff at Korogi Sports Park on Tuesday.
After missing out on a place in the gold medal match, Pakistan returned to the field with something to prove and produced a much-improved all-round performance. Fatima Sana led from the front with the bat, while Umm-e-Hani delivered the decisive spell with the ball as Pakistan successfully defended 145.
Bangladesh, chasing 146 for the bronze medal, could manage only 114/7 in their 20 overs. The result gave Pakistan a 31-run victory and a place on the Asian Games podium.
Fatima Sana leads Pakistan’s fightback
Pakistan were put under pressure with the bat after Bangladesh’s bowlers kept things under control during the first innings. The Green Shirts eventually finished on 145/8 from their 20 overs, a total that did not look completely out of reach on a good batting surface.
However, Pakistan’s innings received a crucial boost from captain Fatima Sana.
Coming in during the middle overs, Fatima played a composed unbeaten innings of 45 from 30 balls, hitting three fours and three sixes. Her late acceleration helped Pakistan finish with a competitive total and, more importantly, gave their bowlers something to defend.
Opener Gull Feroza also made an important contribution, scoring 31 from 23 deliveries with six boundaries. Aliya Riaz added 25 from 22 balls, including two sixes, while Shawaal Zulfiqar made 17.
Bangladesh’s bowlers had their moments, with Ritu Moni, Shorna Akter and Nahida Akter taking two wickets each. Sanjida Akter Meghla also picked up one wicket as Bangladesh kept Pakistan from posting a bigger total.
But Pakistan’s total of 145 proved enough because their bowlers responded strongly when the pressure was highest.
Umm-e-Hani stars as Bangladesh struggle in chase
Bangladesh needed 146 runs from 20 overs to claim the bronze medal, but Pakistan’s attack never allowed the chase to become comfortable.
The biggest difference between the two sides came in the middle overs, when Pakistan kept taking wickets and prevented Bangladesh from building the partnerships they needed.
Umm-e-Hani was the standout performer with the ball, finishing with impressive figures of 3/10 from her four overs. Her economical spell put Bangladesh under serious pressure and helped Pakistan maintain control of the chase.
Tasmia Rubab, Fatima Sana, Nashra Sandhu and Ayesha Zafar also picked up one wicket each.
Bangladesh’s best resistance came from Shamima Akhter, who remained unbeaten on 46 from 45 balls. She struck four boundaries and tried to keep Bangladesh in the contest until the final overs.
Captain Nigar Sultana contributed 25 from 30 deliveries, while Dilara Akter scored 12 from eight balls. But the required run rate continued to rise, and Bangladesh eventually finished on 114/7.
Pakistan therefore completed a 31-run victory and secured the bronze medal.
Pakistan bounce back after semi-final disappointment
The bronze-medal victory is particularly significant because Pakistan had entered the Asian Games hoping to compete for gold.
Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the final were ended by Sri Lanka in the semi-final. Sri Lanka chased down Pakistan’s 177/4 with 13 balls remaining, winning by eight wickets after captain Chamari Athapaththu smashed an unbeaten 83 from 50 balls. Pakistan’s Ayesha Zafar had earlier scored 71 from 40 balls, while Shawaal Zulfiqar made 54.
That defeat meant Pakistan had to regroup quickly for the bronze-medal match against Bangladesh.
They did exactly that.
Rather than allowing the semi-final loss to define their campaign, Fatima Sana’s side produced a disciplined performance in the third-place playoff. Their batting total was competitive, and their bowling unit then delivered when it mattered most.
For a team that had fallen short of the gold-medal match, finishing the tournament with a medal provides a positive ending to the campaign.
Bangladesh miss out after reaching the semi-finals
Bangladesh also came into the bronze-medal match after a difficult semi-final against India.
The defending champions produced a dominant performance, beating Bangladesh by 114 runs to reach the final. Shafali Verma made headlines by smashing her maiden T20I century, scoring 100 not out from just 49 balls, while India eventually bowled Bangladesh out for 81.
That result sent Bangladesh into the bronze-medal playoff against Pakistan.
The Tigresses fought hard during the chase, but Pakistan’s bowlers maintained enough pressure to deny them a place on the podium.
Pakistan return to the Asian Games podium
The bronze medal gives Pakistan women’s cricket another Asian Games medal and adds another chapter to the team’s history in the competition.
Pakistan have previously enjoyed considerable success in Asian Games women’s cricket, including gold-medal victories in 2010 and 2014. Their 2022 campaign ended without a medal after they lost the bronze-medal match, making this return to the podium a notable result.
This time, Pakistan had to settle for bronze rather than gold, but the manner in which they recovered from the semi-final defeat will give the team plenty to take away from the tournament.
Fatima Sana’s leadership, Umm-e-Hani’s outstanding bowling figures and the contributions from Pakistan’s middle order proved decisive in the final match.
For Bangladesh, the campaign ends without a medal despite reaching the final four, while Pakistan leave with bronze around their necks.
The Asian Games women’s cricket competition now moves to its gold-medal showdown, with India facing Sri Lanka in the final. The two teams reached the title match after India defeated Bangladesh and Sri Lanka overcame Pakistan in the semi-finals.
For Pakistan, however, the focus will now be on building from this performance. A bronze medal may not have been the original target, but after the disappointment of the semi-final, the team showed character to finish their Asian Games campaign with a victory.
And for cricket fans following the latest developments from the Asian Games, there is plenty more to come.
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