Published on: Sep 28, 2026 12:14 pm IST|Updated on: Sep 28, 2026 12:14 pm IST
India and Pakistan have sealed their spot in the semifinals of the 2026 Asian Games Men’s Cricket Competition in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The quarterfinal stage of the competition was set to get underway from September 28 at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. However, persistent rains over the last two days in the region meant that neither of the two quarter-finals could actually happen.
The opening quarter-final clash was set to take place between Pakistan and Hong Kong, China. However, the rain gods, who have been on song in the last two days, had the last laugh in the game. The game was officially called off at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, preventing even the toss from taking place.
Entering the continental showpiece directly at the knockout stage as one of the four top-ranked nations, Sahibzada Farhan’s young Pakistani side were eager to kick off their campaign. On the other hand, Yasim Murtaza’s Hong Kong side reached the quarter-finals after finishing second in Group B, buoyed by a commanding 41-run victory over Oman.
Under the official tournament regulations set by the Olympic Council of Asia and the International Cricket Council (ICC), when a knockout fixture is washed out, the higher-seeded team automatically progresses to the next round. Consequently, Pakistan’s superior ICC T20I world ranking sealed their berth in the semifinals on October 1, eliminating Hong Kong from the competition without a single delivery bowled.
Reigning gold medallist Team India were supposed to take on Afghanistan in their opening game of the 2026 Asian Games in the second quarter-final. However, the match that was supposed to follow the Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China encounter couldn’t really take place due to the persistent downpour.
Entering the continental tournament directly at the knockout stage as the top-seeded team, Shreyas Iyer’s Indian side brought a powerhouse squad featuring stars such as Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Sanju Samson, and Ishan Kishan. Meanwhile, Darwish Rasooli’s second-string Afghanistan squad reached the quarter-finals after finishing second in Group A behind Nepal.
Persistent rains over the last three days in Aichi-Nagoya caused significant waterlogging across the outfield, preventing the toss from taking place. Despite extensive efforts from the groundsmen, relentless rains forced the match officials to call off the game without a single delivery being bowled.
Under Olympic Council of Asia and ICC tournament regulations for the Aichi-Nagoya Games, when a knockout fixture is washed out, the higher-ranked team advances to the next round. In this case, it was the World No. 1-ranked T20I side, Team India, who have now entered the semifinals and are awaiting their opponents.
The scenario uncannily echoed the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games final, where India also clinched the gold medal over Afghanistan under the same weather-related seeding rule. India now advances to face either Sri Lanka or Nepal in the semifinal set to take place on Thursday, October 1.