Heavy rain in Nisshin, Japan, forced both India and Pakistan’s quarter‑final matches to be abandoned, allowing the two seeded teams to progress directly to the semifinals of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026. Under the tournament’s knockout rules, when a quarter‑final cannot be played, the higher‑ranked or seeded side moves on.
India Move On After Afghanistan Quarter‑Final Is Washed Out
India were scheduled to face Afghanistan in the second quarter‑final on Monday, 28 September. Persistent rain left the pitch water‑logged and unfit for play, prompting the umpires to abandon the match without a single delivery being bowled. With no reserve day available, India advanced by virtue of their seeding.
The win keeps Shreyas Iyer’s side on course to defend the men’s cricket gold they won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. India will meet the winner of the Sri Lanka‑Nepal quarter‑final in the last four.
Pakistan Also Progress Without Playing
Pakistan’s quarter‑final against Hong Kong, China, suffered a similar fate earlier that day. Torrential rain and a water‑logged outfield made play impossible, and after a wait for conditions to improve, officials called off the match before the toss.
Pakistan advanced based on ICC T20I rankings—sixth for Pakistan versus 24th for Hong Kong—per the tournament’s provision that the higher‑ranked team proceeds when a knockout match is fully abandoned. Their semi‑final opponent will be the winner of the Bangladesh‑Malaysia quarter‑final, scheduled for 29 September, weather permitting.
Why the Two Powerhouses Qualified Directly
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka entered the knockout stage as seeded teams, while Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal and Oman contested the remaining quarter‑final spots. The tournament’s regulations do not include a reserve day for abandoned matches, so the higher‑ranked or seeded side automatically qualifies.
Rain Continues to Shape Asian Games Cricket
Weather has already disrupted several group‑stage fixtures, affecting teams such as Nepal, Japan, Malaysia and Oman. The washouts are especially disappointing for sides like Afghanistan and Hong Kong, which prepared for competitive matches but were eliminated without taking the field.
India and Pakistan Could Still Meet in the Final
Both traditional rivals now sit on opposite sides of the bracket. India will face the winner of Sri Lanka vs Nepal, while Pakistan will play the winner of Bangladesh vs Malaysia. An India‑Pakistan final can only occur if both teams win their respective semi‑finals.
After advancing without playing a single ball, both sides will be eager to return to competitive cricket and make their Asian Games appearance count on the field rather than by default.
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