India, the reigning Asian Games champions, are set to face Afghanistan in a highly anticipated quarter-final clash of the men’s cricket competition. Following the short group stage, the line-up is now confirmed with Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka automatically qualifying as top seeds.
The quarter-finals are scheduled as follows:
1. Hong Kong vs Pakistan on 28th September
2. Afghanistan vs India on 28th September
3. Nepal vs Sri Lanka on 29th September
4. Bangladesh vs Malaysia on 29th September
In Group A, Nepal and Afghanistan moved forward, leaving Japan, the hosts, behind. Meanwhile, Malaysia and Hong Kong advanced from Group B, with Oman being eliminated. However, the weather poses a significant challenge; rain disrupted several group-stage matches and similar conditions are expected during the quarter-finals. According to Accuweather, there is a 91% chance of rain during Monday’s matches, with thunderstorms possible, and a comparable forecast for Tuesday.
“If a knockout game is called off without a result, the higher-seeded team, based on ICC’s official T20I rankings, will be declared the winner,” sources from Cricinfo reveal. Although these weather conditions are concerning, forecasts suggest improvements by the semi-finals on Thursday and the medal playoffs on Saturday.
India and Afghanistan last met in the Asian Games final in October 2023, with India securing the gold medal in Hangzhou. Bangladesh took the bronze after defeating Pakistan in the third-place match.
Cricket fans will be keenly watching the skies, hoping for clear conditions so the teams can showcase their talent during this prestigious event.
