Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the men’s cricket semi-final at the Asian Games 2026 after rain forced the abandonment of the Tigers’ quarter-final against Malaysia in Nisshin, Japan, on Tuesday.
The semi-final line-up was confirmed after the third and fourth quarter-finals were both called off without a ball being bowled.
Pakistan will take on Bangladesh on October 1, while India will meet Sri Lanka in the other semi-final on the same day.
Rain disrupts Asian Games cricket
The quarter-final between Sri Lanka and Nepal was also abandoned earlier on Tuesday because of persistent rain. Sri Lanka advanced to the semi-finals, where they will face India.
The washouts have limited the amount of cricket played at the newly prepared venue in Nisshin, with organisers facing further weather-related challenges ahead of the knockout stages.
Jarrad Shearer, the Asian Games’ sports director, expressed his frustration after organisers spent around a year converting a baseball diamond into a cricket venue.
“Cricket, like baseball, you can’t play it in the rain. A year of my life on this, and it rains,” Shearer said.
Despite the disruption, Shearer remained hopeful that conditions would improve before the semi-finals.
He said organisers would work to remove standing water and prepare the playing areas, including using squeegees, brooms and sponges to dry sections not protected by covers.
Pakistan reach Asian Games cricket semi-finals after rain washes out Hong Kong clash
Pakistan advanced after Hong Kong washout
Pakistan secured their semi-final place a day earlier when their quarter-final against Hong Kong was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Under the competition rules, the higher-seeded team advanced when the match could not take place, sending Pakistan into the last four.
India also progressed after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was similarly abandoned because of the weather.
The two sides will now meet Sri Lanka and Bangladesh respectively in the semi-finals.
All four quarter-finals were washed out at the Asian Games in Nisshin 🌧️
🤞 for the semi-finals and medal matches pic.twitter.com/NQ4lrBGj6Y
— Cricinfo (@cricinfo) September 29, 2026
Bangladesh suffer key absence
Bangladesh will enter the semi-final without batter Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering from a fever and infection.
The absence of the experienced batter will leave Bangladesh without one of their key players for the knockout stage.
Weather remains the biggest concern ahead of the semi-finals, although forecasts for Nisshin are reportedly more favourable for October 1.
The medal matches are scheduled for October 3, with organisers hoping improved conditions will allow the remaining fixtures to be completed as planned.
