India Advance to Asian Games Cricket Semi-Finals Without Playing After Rain Washes Out Afghanistan Match

India advanced to the men’s cricket semi-finals at the Asian Games after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was abandoned without a toss due to rain in Nisshin, Japan, on Monday.

Persistent rain left the outfield at Korogi Sports Park unfit for play. After a lengthy wait, the umpires called off the match, with no realistic opportunity for even a shortened five-over contest.

Under the tournament rules, if a quarter-final is abandoned, the team ranked higher in the ICC T20I rankings advances to the semi-finals. India, the defending champions and the top-ranked T20I side, therefore progressed, while Afghanistan, ranked tenth, were eliminated.

India had received direct entry to the quarter-finals based on their ranking. Afghanistan reached the last eight after finishing second in their group.

India will face the winner of the Sri Lanka-Nepal quarter-final in the semi-finals on October 1.

Rain also affected the Pakistan-Hong Kong quarter-final, which was abandoned without a toss. Pakistan advanced to the semi-finals under the same ranking rule.

The results leave open the possibility of an India-Pakistan final if both teams win their semi-final matches. If both lose, they could meet in the bronze-medal match.

India have yet to play a match in the tournament because their quarter-final was washed out. Their semi-final will be their first appearance on the field at the Asian Games.