No ball, no toss, yet Pakistan in semis: Asian Games cricket rule explained
Pakistan advanced to Asian Games 2026 cricket semis after rain abandoned their quarterfinal against Hong Kong without a toss.
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Rain has disrupted the knockout stage of the Asian Games 2026 cricket tournament with the quarter-final between Pakistan and Hong Kong, China scheduled for September 28, being abandoned without a single ball being bowled. Under the Asian Games rules, the higher-ranked team advances if a knockout match is washed out. As a result, Pakistan progressed to the semi-finals, while Hong Kong, China were eliminated.
Hong Kong, China had reached the quarter-finals after a strong showing in the group stage and were scheduled to face Pakistan. However, heavy rain prevented the match from getting underway with even the toss cancelled. The match referee waited for conditions to improve but the wet outfield remained unplayable forcing the cancellation of the match.
Pakistan will now play in the semi-finals on October 1 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin with their opponent yet to be decided. India will face Afghanistan in the other semi-final at the same venue after securing victory in their quarter-final. The India-Afghanistan match could also be affected by rain and if the game is abandoned without play, the tournament's knockout rules could determine which team advances.