Asian Games 2026: India vs Afghanistan quarter-final match in Nagoya ultimately washed away due to heavy rain. And Shreyas Iyer’s team eventually reached the semi-finals due to the Indian cricket team being higher than Afghanistan in the ICC rankings.
The quarter final was washed away by rain
India reached the semi-finals of Asian Games men’s cricket. India’s quarter-final match against Afghanistan was abandoned in Nisshin due to continuous rain and a wet field. The match was abandoned 16 minutes before the scheduled toss.
India benefits from higher ranking
After the match was abandoned, Team India got the semi-final ticket due to India’s higher seeding. Quarter-final seeding was determined based on the ICC T20 rankings. India made it to the next round after being ahead of Afghanistan in that ranking.
India against whom in the semi-final?
India’s opponents in the semi-finals will be decided by the result of Tuesday’s Sri Lanka vs Nepal quarter-final. India will play the winner of this match in the second semi-final on Thursday. Sri Lanka are one of four straight quarter-finalists, and they will advance to the semi-finals if their match against Nepal is also washed out by rain.
Pakistan is also in the semis without playing a match
Monday’s first quarter-final was also canceled due to rain. Even the toss was not possible in that match between Hong Kong and Pakistan. Pakistan also reached the semi-finals directly due to their higher ICC T20 ranking.
Curse of rain against India again
Afghanistan’s Asian Games campaign was halted by rain for the second time in a row against India. Even in the final of the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, the match between India and Afghanistan could not be completed due to rain. Afghanistan won the silver medal in that match.
Team India in the semi-finals on Thursday
This time, India is waiting to enter the field for the first time in the Asian Games. Due to rain, not a single ball could be played in the quarter finals, but Shreyas Iyer’s team reached the last four according to the ranking rules. India will enter the second semi-final on Thursday.