Asian Games: India and Pakistan qualify for semi final after quarterfinal washouts

India and Pakistan advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition after their respective quarter-final fixtures were washed out on Monday, September 28, at Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin.

India were set to take on Afghanistan in the second quarter-final before persistent rain and a damp outfield abandoned the match 16 minutes before the scheduled toss. As a result, they qualified for the semi-final due to higher seeding determined by the ICC T20I team rankings, while Afghanistan got knocked out.

India are ranked at the top of the rankings, while Afghanistan occupy the tenth place. The Shreyas Iyer-led side will next face the winners of the third quarter-final between Nepal and Sri Lanka in the second semi-final at the same venue on October 1. 

Notably, it’s the second successive time that Afghanistan’s campaign in the Asian Games men's tournament came to an end after a washout against India. They had to settle for a silver medal in Hangzhou in 2023 after their final against India was washed out after 18.2 overs of the first innings.

Pakistan vs Hong Kong also washed out

Meanwhile, Pakistan also progressed to the semi-final due to higher seeding after their quarter-final fixture against Hong Kong China was washed out. Pakistan are ranked sixth in the ICC T20I rankings, while Hong Kong China are at the 24th position.

They will take on the winner of the fourth quarter-final between Malaysia and Bangladesh in the first semi-final on October 1. 

Meanwhile, both Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also stand a chance to earn a direct entry into the semi-final, should their quarter-final fixtures on September 29 also get washed out due to inclement weather.