Nisshin, September 29, 2026: Pakistan will face Bangladesh in the first semi-final of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026 at Korogi Sports Park on Thursday.
The semifinal line-up was confirmed after Bangladesh advanced to the last four when their quarter-final against Malaysia was abandoned without a ball being bowled.
Bangladesh progressed on the basis of their higher seeding, determined by the ICC T20I team rankings. Bangladesh are ranked eighth, while Malaysia are 25th.
Sri Lanka also advanced to the semi-finals after their quarter-final against Nepal was washed out without a toss. Sri Lanka, ranked ninth in the ICC T20I rankings, progressed ahead of 14th-ranked Nepal.
Sri Lanka will face India in the second semi-final on Thursday at the same venue.
Pakistan’s quarter-final against Hong Kong, China, and India’s last-eight clash with Afghanistan were also abandoned a day earlier because of persistent rain and unfavourable playing conditions.
Asian Games sports director Jarrad Shearer expressed disappointment over the cancellation of all four quarter-finals but remained hopeful that the weather would improve in time for the semi-finals.
“Cricket, like baseball, you can’t play it in the rain,” Shearer said.
He said organisers would work to dry areas of the venue not protected by covers ahead of Thursday’s matches.
The gold-medal match will be played on October 3 at Korogi Sports Park, with the losing semi-finalists contesting the bronze-medal playoff on the same day.
