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India, Pakistan reach Asian Games cricket semis after rain-washed quarterfinals
India and Pakistan advanced to the Asian Games cricket semifinals on Monday after rain forced the abandonment of their respective quarterfinal matches against Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Both higher-seeded teams progressed under tournament rules that award advancement based on world rankings when matches cannot be played.
Quick Facts
- Cricket quarterfinals abandoned due to rain
- India advanced to semifinals
- Pakistan advanced to semifinals
- Matches decided by world rankings
- Tournament using T20 format
Heavy rain in Nagoya forced organizers to abandon both men's cricket quarterfinals at the Asian Games on Monday, September 28, allowing India and Pakistan to advance to the semifinals without playing. Pakistan progressed past Hong Kong and India advanced over Afghanistan under tournament rules that grant higher-seeded teams automatic passage when matches cannot be played.
The persistent downpour at Korogi Sports Park prevented even a coin toss before both matches were called off. Pakistan, ranked higher than Hong Kong in ICC T20 standings, secured its semifinal berth. India, the defending Asian Games champion from Hangzhou and currently ranked number one in T20 formats, similarly advanced past Afghanistan, who finished tenth in rankings.
India's squad includes pace bowler Jasprit Bumrah and 15-year-old batting star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who led the Indian Premier League batting charts earlier in 2026. Captain Shreyas Iyer's team won a warmup friendly against Japan but has yet to face competitive opposition at the Games. Afghanistan's Mohammad Akram expressed disappointment, saying his team was in form and would have welcomed the chance to play.
The remaining two quarterfinals are scheduled for Tuesday, September 29: Sri Lanka versus Nepal and Bangladesh versus Malaysia. India will face the winner of the Sri Lanka-Nepal match, while Pakistan will play the victor of the Bangladesh-Malaysia encounter. India won the defending title at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, when a similar rain-affected final was decided by seeding. The T20 format used at the Asian Games will also feature at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Topics
Why This Matters
Two of Asia's highest-ranked T20 cricket teams advanced to the Asian Games semifinals without playing; tournament rules based on ICC world rankings determined progression when rain made quarterfinals unplayable. The remaining two quarterfinals (Sri Lanka–Nepal, Bangladesh–Malaysia) are rescheduled for September 29, with winners facing India and Pakistan in the semifinals. The T20 format used here will also appear at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, making the tournament a preparation benchmark for medal contenders.
Timeline & Sources
Sep 28, 2026
WirePakistan vs Hong Kong quarterfinal abandoned due to rain; Pakistan advanced as higher seed
Sep 28, 2026
WireIndia vs Afghanistan quarterfinal abandoned due to rain; India advanced as higher seed
Sep 29, 2026
WireSri Lanka vs Nepal quarterfinal scheduled
Sep 29, 2026
WireBangladesh vs Malaysia quarterfinal scheduled
Related Signals
Sources
- India, Pakistan on Asian Games collision course after cricket washoutAFP.comWireSep 28, 2026
- Cricket India Pakistan Asian Games 17004d1aacadc3220af205ad53bbee73apWireSep 28, 2026
- First two semi-final spots decided at Asian Games men's competitionICCMediaSep 28, 2026
- ఆసియా క్రీడలు: ఒక్క బంతి కూడా పడకుండానే సెమీస్కు పాకిస్థాన్AP7AMMediaSep 28, 2026