The Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket quarter-final line-up is now taking shape after rain disrupted the final round of the preliminary stage in Japan. The washouts involving Japan and Oman have helped settle the qualification picture, with India set to face Afghanistan and Pakistan scheduled to meet Hong Kong, China in the last eight.

India and Pakistan were among the four seeded teams given direct entry into the quarter-finals, alongside Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. The remaining six teams were split into Groups A and B, with the top two from each group progressing to the knockout stage.

India and Pakistan matches at the Asian Games 2026

India will face Afghanistan in the second quarter-final on September 28 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

Afghanistan finished second in Group A after beating Japan in their opening match before losing to Nepal. Nepal subsequently topped the group, while Afghanistan’s two points were enough to secure the second qualifying position.

The decisive Japan-Nepal match was affected by rain, with the washout ending Japan’s hopes of progressing. Nepal therefore advanced as Group A winners, while Afghanistan took the runner-up spot and the corresponding quarter-final against India.

India, meanwhile, have been waiting for their first men’s cricket match of the Asian Games after receiving direct qualification based on their seeding. The Shreyas Iyer-led side enters the competition as defending champions after winning gold at the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games.

The match is scheduled for 1:30 pm Japan time, corresponding to 10:30 am IST according to the official tournament schedule.

On the other hand, Pakistan will face Hong Kong, China in the first men’s cricket quarter-final.

The result follows the conclusion of the Group B qualification race, with Oman eliminated after the washout and Hong Kong, China progressing as the second-placed team. Malaysia had already established itself as a strong contender for the top position after defeating Hong Kong by eight wickets in its opening game.

Hong Kong, China then kept its knockout hopes alive by defeating Oman by 41 runs. That victory proved important as the side remained in contention for a quarter-final place heading into the final Group B fixture.

Pakistan’s quarter-final is scheduled for 9:00 am Japan time on September 28. The official Asian Games schedule lists the fixture as Pakistan versus the second-placed team from Group B.

Why were Japan and Oman eliminated?

The preliminary round featured two groups of three teams, with the top two from each group moving into the quarter-finals.

In Group A, Afghanistan and Nepal secured the two qualifying positions, leaving hosts Japan out of the knockout stage. Japan’s final match against Nepal was affected by rain, bringing their campaign to an end without the result they needed.

In Group B, Malaysia and Hong Kong, China emerged as the two teams advancing to the quarter-finals, while Oman were eliminated following the disrupted final-stage qualification scenario.

The format means every point from the preliminary round was crucial, particularly because only two teams from each group could progress.

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Can India and Pakistan meet at Asian Games 2026?

An India-Pakistan meeting remains possible, but not in the quarter-finals.

The tournament draw places the two teams on opposite sides of the knockout bracket. Pakistan’s quarter-final winner progresses towards the semi-final involving the winners of the Bangladesh quarter-final, while India’s route goes through the opposite side of the draw.

If both teams continue through the knockout stages, they could meet in the gold-medal match on October 3. A meeting would also be possible in the bronze-medal match if both lose their respective semi-finals.

Asian Games 2026 Quarter-Finals Schedule:

QF1: Pakistan vs Hong Kong, China – September 28
QF2: India vs Afghanistan – September 28
QF3: Sri Lanka vs Nepal – September 29
QF4: Bangladesh vs Malaysia – September 29

The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, followed by the bronze-medal match and final on October 3.

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