After their quarterfinal match against Afghanistan was abandoned on September 28 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin without a ball being played, India moved to the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket semi-finals.
The match was completely cancelled by authorities due to the rain that precluded any play during the day. The game was supposed to start at 10:00 AM IST, or 1:30 PM local time in Nisshin, however circumstances prevented play from starting at any time throughout the day.
India moved to the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket semi-finals
The team rated higher in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings advances to the next round in accordance with Asian Games regulations when a knockout match is cancelled. Afghanistan, rated No. 10 in the ICC Men’s T20I rankings, was defeated by India, ranked No. 1. India were certified as semi-finalists without on the pitch because of the rating difference between the two teams, which eliminated any doubt in the application of the rule.
On September 28, after their quarterfinal matchup with Hong Kong was again cancelled due to rain, Pakistan also guarantyd a spot in the semifinals. Pakistan was able to advance in that match without a ball being bowled thanks to the same ICC T20I rankings system.
As a result, neither India nor Pakistan had to play on the pitch at Korogi Sports Park to proceed to the men’s cricket tournament’s final four on the same day. It was a unique instance where two quarterfinals on the same day were completely eliminated, with the rankings-based rule dictating both outcomes.
Rain, not on-field performance, shaped the semi-final lineup on Day 9 of the Asian Games 2026 due to the consecutive abandonments. Pakistan won’t be particularly satisfied with their advancement based on rankings rather than on-field performance, but the tournament’s rules make the result clear. The bracket will be finished after the remaining quarterfinals are finished, and both teams are now awaiting their respective semifinal opponents.
The result of the quarterfinal match between Sri Lanka and Nepal, which is set for September 29, will determine India’s semi-final opponent. The losing team will play Pakistan in the other round of four, while the winner of that match will go to the semi-finals to play India.
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As a result, both sides from that quarterfinal will play one of the two South Asian powerhouses in the final four. Pakistan’s semi-final opponent will also come out of the Sri Lanka vs. Nepal match. In the event that both India and Pakistan advance from their respective semi-finals, the bracket structure guarantees that they cannot encounter prior to the final.
Since they were not included in the verified evidence, the precise dates and locations of the semi-finals and final have not been established at the time of writing and are not included in this report.
