India Advances to Asian Games 2026 Cricket Semi-Finals After Rain Stops Quarterfinal vs Afghanistan
The quarterfinal clash between India and Afghanistan at the Asian Games 2026 was called off due to persistent rain, handing India the victory and a spot in the semi-finals. The match took place at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin but couldn't continue because of weather conditions.
Match Details
- Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
- Captains: Shreyas Iyer (India), Darwish Rasooli (Afghanistan)
- Toss Result: Match abandoned
- Match Result: India declared winners after abandonment
- Live Broadcast: Sony Sports Network, SonyLIV (India), PTV (Pakistan)
- Officials: On-field umpires Gazi Sohel and Prageeth Rambukwella; third umpire Viswanadan Kalidas; fourth umpire Chris Thurgate; match referee Kamran Chaudary
Match Summary
The rain prevented any play from happening, forcing officials to abandon the game. India secured the win based on superior seeding in the tournament standings. They will face either Sri Lanka or Nepal in the upcoming semi-final.
Teams and Key Players
India fielded a strong lineup with Shreyas Iyer leading the side. The batting order boasted names like Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma, complemented by all-rounders Axar Patel and Shivam Dube. The bowling attack featured Jasprit Bumrah supported by Arshdeep Singh and Ravi Bishnoi, presenting a formidable challenge for their opponents.
Afghanistan, captained by Darwish Rasooli, included experienced players such as Karim Janat, Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq, and Nangeyalia Kharoti. Despite the presence of seasoned cricketers, several team members had limited international exposure, making the contest difficult against India's full-strength squad.
Win Probability and Predicted Lineups
- Win Probability: India 100%, Afghanistan 0%
- India Predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh/Jasprit Bumrah, Jasprit Bumrah
- Afghanistan Predicted XI: Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Karim Janat, Darwish Rasooli (Captain), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq (Wicketkeeper), Ismat Alam, Nangeyalia Kharoti, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Arab Gul Momand
Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Schedule Highlights
- September 24: Afghanistan vs Japan (9:00 AM JST), Hong Kong China vs Malaysia (2:00 PM JST)
- September 25: Hong Kong China vs Oman (9:00 AM JST), Afghanistan vs Nepal (2:00 PM JST)
- September 26: Japan vs Nepal (9:00 AM JST), Malaysia vs Oman (2:00 PM JST)
- September 28 (Quarterfinals): Pakistan vs Hong Kong China (9:00 AM JST), India vs Afghanistan (2:00 PM JST)
- September 29 (Quarterfinals): Sri Lanka vs Nepal, Bangladesh vs Malaysia
- October 1: Semi-final 1 - India vs TBD
- October 3: Bronze medal match and Final
Next Steps
India waits to find out whether they will face Sri Lanka or Nepal in the semi-finals. The match outcome was settled through tournament seedings since no play was possible. Fans can follow updates and join discussions on Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) for ongoing cricket news from the Asian Games.
