Pakistan to Face Bangladesh in Asian Games Semi-Final After Washouts

Pakistan will play Bangladesh in the men's cricket semi-final of the Asian Games 2026 on Thursday, October 1, after heavy rain washed out Bangladesh's quarter-final against Malaysia in Nisshin, Japan, on Tuesday. The match was called off about two hours before the toss. Both teams were told not to come to the ground at all.

Bangladesh went through because they are ranked higher than Malaysia. That same rule has now decided every single quarter-final. Earlier on Tuesday morning, Sri Lanka's match against Nepal was also abandoned, so Sri Lanka will face India in the other semi-final.

All Four Quarter-Finals Lost to Rain

The men's cricket event is being held at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, in Japan's Aichi Prefecture. Rain has hit the tournament very hard. On Monday, Pakistan's quarter-final against Hong Kong was abandoned without a ball being bowled, and India's match against Afghanistan was also washed out.

Under the tournament rules, when a knockout match cannot be played, the team with the higher ICC ranking moves on. This sent Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh into the last four without taking the field. Hong Kong, Afghanistan, Nepal and Malaysia are out of the Games.

No cricket has been played in Nisshin since Saturday. On that day, Nepal had scored 149 for 4 in 15 overs against hosts Japan before rain ended the game. ESPNcricinfo reported that Tuesday's washout was the sixth match in a row to be called off. The Games sports director, Jarrad Shearer, said organisers spent a whole year turning a baseball ground into a cricket venue. "A year of my life on this, and it rains," he said.

Semi-Final Timing and What Comes Next

Pakistan and Bangladesh will play the first semi-final at 5am Pakistan time on Thursday. India and Sri Lanka will meet in the second semi-final at 10am Pakistan time at the same ground. Cricket fans in Pakistan will need to wake up early for this one.

The two winners will play for the gold medal on Saturday, October 3. The two losing teams will play each other for the bronze medal on the same day. This means Pakistan still have a chance of a medal even if they lose on Thursday.

There is some good news about the weather. Reports from Japan say the forecast for Nisshin is better for October 1 and October 3. Organisers have not publicly explained what will happen if a semi-final is also washed out, or whether there is a reserve day.

A New Look Pakistan Team

Pakistan have sent a young side to Japan under a new captain. Opening batter Sahibzada Farhan is leading the national team for the first time. The squad mixes players from the senior team and Pakistan Shaheens, and four of them had not yet played international cricket.

Before leaving, the team held a four-day training camp in Karachi. They practised on pitches prepared to match the conditions expected in Japan. The squad also includes Saim Ayub, Maaz Sadaqat, wicketkeeper Usman Khan, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Abrar Ahmed and fast bowler Mohammad Wasim.

Because of the rain, Pakistan have not played a single match in the tournament so far. Their first game in Japan will be a semi-final. The pitch in Nisshin is expected to help spin bowlers, and runs have not come easily at this ground.

Bangladesh Without Shanto

Bangladesh, led by Litton Das, will be without senior batter Najmul Hossain Shanto. He has been ruled out of the Games because of a fever and an infection.

Bangladesh have a good record at the Asian Games. They won the gold medal in 2010 after beating Afghanistan in the final, and won bronze in 2014. At the last Games in Hangzhou, China, in 2023, they lost to India in the semi-final but then beat Pakistan in the bronze medal match. Pakistan went home without a medal that year after also losing their semi-final to Afghanistan.

Thursday's game gives Pakistan a chance to reverse that result. Pakistan's women have already won a medal at these Games. They took bronze last week after beating Bangladesh by 31 runs. The men's team will now hope to go further and reach the final on October 3.