Rain decided two quarter-finals at the Asian Games men's cricket competition in Nisshin on September 28, 2026, sending both India and Pakistan into the semi-finals without a ball being bowled, according to france24.com.
India advanced past Afghanistan after their quarter-final was washed out, olympics.com reports. Pakistan went through at the expense of Hong Kong in the day's other abandoned match, the Pakistan Cricket Board's official website confirmed.
The two results leave the sport's biggest rivals on a collision course at the tournament, france24.com reports. India and Pakistan now sit in opposite halves of the draw, meaning they could only meet in the final.
The International Cricket Council confirmed that the first two semi-final spots had been decided by the washouts. The second quarter-final in Nisshin was scheduled for September 28, 2026, according to Cricinfo.
Cricket's presence at the Asian Games has given the men's competition added weight this cycle, with the knockout format leaving little room for error. Abandoned matches are resolved under tournament rules rather than replayed, which is why both quarter-finals were settled without play.
India and Pakistan will now prepare for their semi-finals while the remaining quarter-finalists wait to learn their opponents. Whether the two sides actually meet will depend on results in the last four.
