India advanced to the semi-final of the Asian Games 2026 cricket competition after weather on Monday, September 28, forced the cancellation of their quarterfinal match against Afghanistan. Aakash Chopra said In my opinion, the Asian Games are not prepared. Cricket is not at all ready for the Asian Games. The washout wasn’t a singular occurrence. Due to rain and a wet outfield in Nisshin, the tournament’s four quarterfinals were cancelled, and Bangladesh, India, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan all advanced to the final four without playing a single delivery.
On Thursday, October 1, India will play Sri Lanka in an attempt to qualify for the gold medal match. Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin will host cricket matches during the tournament, which will take place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, from September 19 to October 4, 2026. From September 17 to October 3, twelve nations will compete in men’s and women’s formats at the facility, which was renovated from a baseball pitch. Groundwork was finished in late March 2026, and it features a hybrid pitch square.
“Cricket is not at all ready for the Asian Games” – Aakash Chopra
Aakash Chopra said In my opinion, the Asian Games are not prepared. Cricket is not at all ready for the Asian Games. Particularly when the games take place in non-cricketing countries like China or Japan. It’s really not good. We witnessed the one game in Sano, which only lasted five overs per side. It wasn’t right, really. For international cricket, the pitch was not sufficiently prepared. Even if there is a little rain, they are unable to dry it, so the match does not take place in Nisshin, which has a better hybrid pitch and all of that. There is absolutely no provision for drying.
Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel, “There are no super soppers or covers in place. “Let’s be completely honest if this is going to be the case. Yaar, what is the point? Why are we so close to a medal? since we have a higher ranking. Since our standing is higher, we will advance to the final if the subsequent game is likewise cancelled. We will win the gold if the final is cancelled since we have a higher ranking. This is what? This is not how it can be. He continued, “It’s a really bad way to run the Asian Games.”
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Bangladesh and Pakistan will compete in the other semi-final on Thursday at the same location. The matches for the gold and bronze medals are set for this Saturday.
