Asian Games cricket: Pakistan face Bangladesh, India meet Sri Lanka in semifinals on October 1

The semifinal line-up in the cricket event at the 2026 Asian Games is now clear. Both semifinals will be played on October 1. In the first, Pakistan will take on Bangladesh, while India will face Sri Lanka in the second.

The first semifinal, between Pakistan and Bangladesh, will start at 5.30 am Indian time on October 1. The second, between India and Sri Lanka, will start at 10 am Indian time the same day.

So far, cricket in this event has advanced only on the basis of best ranking. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have not played a single match yet, but by chance all four have reached the semifinals. Under the seeding system, they had been given direct entry to the quarterfinals.

Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Nepal had come through the group stage to reach the quarterfinals. However, they did not get the chance to stake their claim in the semifinals, as rain played spoilsport.

The cricket event has become a talking point. Several matches since the group stage have been abandoned because of rain. All four quarterfinals were also lost to rain. Questions are being raised over the rules as a result. After the quarterfinals were called off, India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh advanced to the semifinals on the basis of best ranking.

At the 2022 Asian Games, too, India won the gold medal on the basis of best ranking. That year, the Indian men's team was to play Afghanistan in the final. The match could not be completed because of rain, so the Indian team was declared champion on the basis of ranking.

The rules have been changed this time. If this year's final is called off because of rain, both teams will be awarded the gold medal. Rain threatens the semifinals as well, and India's match is scheduled for 10 am.