Asian Games 2026: Indian men's cricket team's quarter-final match against Afghanistan in the Asian Games 2026 was washed out due to rain. Due to persistent bad weather and field conditions the match had to be abandoned without a toss. However, despite this, the Indian team has made it to the semi-finals. India got entry into the next round on the basis of better ICC T20 ranking. In this way, Team India's campaign to save the gold medal continues.
Rain washes out India-Afghanistan match
This quarter-final match between India and Afghanistan was to be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nishin. But even before the match started, due to continuous rain, covers were installed on the field. The match could not start due to the weather not improving and the field condition being unfit for play.
Earlier, the quarter-final match played between Pakistan and Hong Kong at the same venue was also canceled without the toss. Due to continuous rain, the condition of the field was not such that the match could be held. The officials were left with no practical option to shorten the match. Ultimately the decision was taken to cancel the match.
How did India get the semi-final ticket without playing?
There is no reserve day for the knockout matches in the men's cricket matches of the Asian Games 2026. In such a situation, if there is no result of the quarter-finals due to rain or any other reason, the team with better ICC T20 ranking is considered the winner.
India is currently ranked first in the ICC T20 rankings, while Afghanistan is ranked 10th. After the match was canceled on the basis of this rule, the Indian team got entry into the semi-finals.
India's campaign to save gold medal continues
The Indian team is the current champion of men's cricket in the Asian Games. Even in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the gold medal match between India and Afghanistan could not be completed due to rain. At that time India was given the gold medal on the basis of better seeding.
Now in the Asian Games 2026 also, the Indian team has reached the last four without playing the quarter-finals. The team's eyes will now be on the semi-final match, from where it will get a chance to advance its claim for the gold medal.
May face Sri Lanka or Nepal in semi-finals
The Indian team will face the winner of the quarter-final match between Sri Lanka and Nepal on September 29 in the semi-finals. At the same time, Pakistan team will face the winner of the quarter final between Bangladesh and Malaysia.
Both the semi-final matches will be played on October 1. There will be a contest for the bronze medal between the losing teams in the semi-finals.
Afghanistan's journey ends due to rain
The Asian Games 2026 journey ended on a disappointing note for Afghanistan. The team had made it to the quarter-finals on the basis of its performance in the group stage, but the knockout match against India could not be held due to rain.
In this way, once again the match between India and Afghanistan could not be decided on the field. The Indian team advanced to the next round on the basis of rules, while Afghanistan's campaign ended.
Also read: Virat-Gill's centuries rained runs in Thiruvananthapuram, Dwarfs the target of 295! India's resounding victory with Kohli's sixes