Hasan Nawaz says he is still hurt after Asian Games final loss to India

Pakistan batter Hasan Nawaz said he remains disappointed after Pakistan lost the men's cricket gold medal match to India at the Asian Games in Japan last week. India beat Pakistan by 19 runs in the final despite Nawaz top-scoring with 96.

Nawaz acknowledged the sting of the defeat and placed responsibility on lapses in execution, telling reporters, "I am still disappointed and hurt at not being able to win the final. We made small mistakes and we paid the price for it." He also recounted his personal feelings about the innings and the result.

Addressing the specifics of the run chase, Nawaz told the media: "I am satisfied with my runs but losing the final was disappointing because I really believed we could win the game. I was playing according to calculation and knew they were one bowler short at the end with just one over from Bumrah remaining. But I think we made some mistakes in the run chase and lost." Those remarks linked his individual return to the wider contest situation.

Nawaz described India as the "No. 1 side" while saying Pakistan had put themselves in a position to win. He said the defeat still stung but emphasised the narrow margins that decided the match.

On a personal level, Nawaz said he was pleased to have re-established himself after an extended absence from international cricket, having been sidelined for most of last year. "To make a comeback with a good innings against India was very satisfying individually for me," he said.

Nawaz recalled his earlier breakthrough in international cricket, noting his T20I century on debut against New Zealand in 2024, and pointed to his development through lower-level matches. "I think the bowlers and pitches you get in these matches help you become a better player in difficult conditions. When you bat in better conditions in international cricket it helps your confidence," he said.

Nawaz said the team must learn from the loss and move on, adding: "I think the final is over now and cricket and matches will continue. We will also continue to make mistakes but I think to beat them we have to learn from our mistakes and become better." He is now looking ahead to Pakistan's home white-ball series against Sri Lanka and England and said, "You have a plan and you stick to it. Ups and downs are always there," he added.