The preliminary round of the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket tournament has been completed, setting up four quarter-finals and the routes to the semi-finals. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh received direct quarter-final entry as the seeded teams, while Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong and Malaysia qualified through the group stage. The knockout stage begins on September 28, with all four quarter-finals taking place at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin across September 28 and 29. The winners will move into the semi-finals on October 1, while the bronze-medal match and gold-medal final are scheduled for October 3.
Asian Games Cricket Quarter Final Schedule 2026
The Asian Games cricket quarter-final schedule features four matches across September 28 and 29. Pakistan will face Hong Kong in the first quarter-final, followed by India against Afghanistan later on September 28. The remaining two matches will take place on September 29, with Sri Lanka facing Nepal and Bangladesh meeting Malaysia. All four games are scheduled at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. The quarter-final winners will then enter two fixed semi-final pathways, with both semi-finals scheduled for October 1.
Pakistan vs Hong Kong Quarter Final
Pakistan will face Hong Kong in the first men’s quarter-final on September 28. The match is scheduled to begin at 5:30 AM IST at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Pakistan received direct entry into the knockout stage as one of the seeded teams, while Hong Kong qualified from Group B. The pairing follows the group-stage qualification structure, with Hong Kong advancing from the preliminary round and now facing one of the seeded Full Member sides in the quarter-finals.
India vs Afghanistan Quarter Final
India will play their first men’s cricket match of the Asian Games against Afghanistan on September 28. The quarter-final is scheduled for 10:00 AM IST at Korogi Sports Park. Afghanistan finished second in Group A after beating Japan and losing to Nepal, while India entered directly at the knockout stage as a seeded team. The winner will progress to the second semi-final pathway, where they will face the winner of Sri Lanka versus Nepal.
Sri Lanka vs Nepal Quarter Final
Sri Lanka will meet Nepal in the third quarter-final on September 29. Nepal topped Group A after defeating Afghanistan and then benefiting from the washout between Nepal and Japan. Sri Lanka, like India and Pakistan, received direct entry into the quarter-finals as a seeded team. The match will determine which team advances to the second semi-final, where the winner will face the winner of India versus Afghanistan on October 1.
Bangladesh vs Malaysia Quarter Final
Bangladesh will face Malaysia in the fourth quarter-final on September 29. Malaysia reached the knockout stage after finishing second in Group B, while Hong Kong topped the group. Malaysia had opened the group with an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong, but the final match against Oman was washed out. Bangladesh entered directly at the quarter-final stage as a seeded team. The winner of this match will move into the first semi-final pathway.
How the Asian Games Cricket Quarter Final Format Works
The men’s Asian Games cricket competition features 10 teams, but only six of them entered the preliminary group stage. Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal were placed in Group A, while Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman formed Group B. The top two teams from each group advanced to the quarter-finals. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka avoided the preliminary stage because they were given direct knockout berths as the seeded Full Member teams. This structure created a quarter-final bracket made up of four seeded sides and four teams that qualified through the group stage.
Six Teams Competed for Four Quarter Final Places
Six teams competed for four available quarter-final places during the preliminary round. Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal made up Group A, while Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman formed Group B. The top two teams from each group advanced to the knockout stage. Nepal and Afghanistan qualified from Group A, while Hong Kong and Malaysia progressed from Group B. Japan and Oman were eliminated before the quarter-finals after the group-stage results and weather-affected fixtures.
India Pakistan Bangladesh and Sri Lanka Were Seeded
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka were allocated direct quarter-final berths and therefore did not need to play in the preliminary group stage. The four Full Member sides entered the knockout round through the tournament’s seeding system. India also entered as the defending men’s Asian Games champions after winning gold in 2023. Their direct qualification meant that the four group-stage qualifiers would be divided among the four seeded teams in the quarter-final bracket.
Group A Results and Quarter Final Qualification
Group A was decided through a combination of completed results and a rain-affected final fixture. Afghanistan opened the tournament with a 48-run win over Japan, but Nepal then defeated Afghanistan by five wickets. The final group match between Nepal and Japan was subsequently abandoned after rain. Nepal had reached 149/4 in 15 overs before the weather stopped play. The washout confirmed Nepal as Group A winners and Afghanistan as runners-up, while Japan were eliminated from the competition.
Afghanistan Finished Second Behind Nepal
Afghanistan finished second in Group A after recording one win and one defeat. They began with a 48-run victory over Japan after scoring 129/6 and dismissing the hosts for 81. Afghanistan then faced Nepal and made 102/7, but Nepal chased the target by reaching 103/5 in 17.2 overs. That five-wicket defeat left Afghanistan behind Nepal in the final group order. They still secured a quarter-final place and were drawn against India.
Nepal-Japan Washout Confirmed the Final Order
Nepal’s final group match against Japan was affected by rain and eventually abandoned. Nepal had reached 149/4 in 15 overs before the weather stopped play. The result meant Japan could not complete their challenge for qualification, while Nepal finished at the top of Group A. Afghanistan remained second after their earlier win over Japan and defeat against Nepal. The final order therefore sent Nepal into the Sri Lanka quarter-final and Afghanistan into the India quarter-final.
Group B Results and Quarter Final Qualification
Group B produced Hong Kong and Malaysia as the two quarter-finalists. Malaysia began the group stage with an eight-wicket victory over Hong Kong, but Hong Kong responded by defeating Oman by 41 runs. The final Group B match between Malaysia and Oman was then washed out, preventing the standings from changing further. Hong Kong finished at the top of the group, while Malaysia secured second place and advanced to the quarter-finals. Oman were eliminated after failing to complete a winning campaign.
Malaysia and Hong Kong Advanced
Malaysia and Hong Kong secured the two available quarter-final places from Group B. Malaysia started with an eight-wicket win over Hong Kong, while Hong Kong responded with a 41-run victory against Oman. Those results put both teams in a strong position before the final fixture. With the Malaysia-Oman match later washed out, the two sides retained the qualification places and moved into the knockout stage. Hong Kong topped the group, while Malaysia finished as runners-up.
Malaysia vs Oman Washed Out
Malaysia and Oman could not complete their final Group B fixture because of weather. The washout meant the match could not provide Oman with an opportunity to change the final qualification picture. Malaysia and Hong Kong therefore advanced to the quarter-finals, while Oman were eliminated. Malaysia’s place in the last eight was particularly notable because their opening win over Hong Kong had already given them an important advantage before the weather-affected conclusion to the group stage.
India and Pakistan Semi Final Qualification Scenarios
The published knockout bracket separates India and Pakistan into different semi-final pathways. Pakistan’s route runs through the quarter-final between Pakistan and Hong Kong and then the Bangladesh-Malaysia quarter-final. India’s route begins with Afghanistan and then continues through the Sri Lanka-Nepal quarter-final. This means the quarter-final results will determine the exact teams in each semi-final, but the two pathways are already fixed. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, with the winners advancing to the gold-medal final.
Pakistan’s Route to the Semi Final
Pakistan must first defeat Hong Kong in the quarter-final to remain in the gold-medal race. If Pakistan advance, they will face the winner of Bangladesh versus Malaysia in the first semi-final on October 1. This means Pakistan’s possible semi-final opponent comes only from that quarter-final pairing. Under the published bracket, Pakistan and India are positioned on opposite sides of the knockout pathway and therefore cannot meet in the semi-final.
India’s Route to the Semi Final
India must first overcome Afghanistan in their quarter-final to reach the semi-final. If India advance, they will face the winner of Sri Lanka versus Nepal in the second semi-final on October 1. India therefore have a separate route from Pakistan, with Afghanistan and Sri Lanka-Nepal forming the relevant quarter-final pathway. The winner of that semi-final will progress to the gold-medal match on October 3.
Can India and Pakistan Meet at the Asian Games?
India and Pakistan cannot meet in the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket semi-final because the published knockout bracket places them on opposite sides. India’s pathway includes Afghanistan and the Sri Lanka-Nepal quarter-final, while Pakistan’s pathway includes Hong Kong and the Bangladesh-Malaysia quarter-final. Their only possible meetings in this tournament would therefore come in the medal matches. If both teams progress through their respective pathways, the gold-medal final would be one possible meeting, while the bronze-medal match would provide the other medal-stage possibility.
India vs Pakistan Cannot Happen in the Semi Final
India and Pakistan are separated into different semi-final pathways. India are placed on the side containing Afghanistan and Sri Lanka-Nepal, while Pakistan are on the side containing Hong Kong and Bangladesh-Malaysia. As a result, the two teams cannot meet in the semi-final. The bracket was fixed before the quarter-finals, so their eventual route is determined by the published knockout structure rather than another draw after the quarter-finals.
The Potential Meeting Would Come in a Medal Match
A meeting between India and Pakistan could only take place in one of the medal matches. The bronze-medal match and gold-medal final are both scheduled for October 3. Their actual paths to those matches depend on the quarter-final and semi-final results, so no meeting is guaranteed. The important point from the published bracket is that the two teams cannot face each other before the medal stage.
Asian Games Cricket Semi Final Schedule and Bracket
The two Asian Games cricket semi-finals are scheduled for October 1 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. The first semi-final will bring together the winners of Pakistan versus Hong Kong and Bangladesh versus Malaysia. The second semi-final will feature the winners of India versus Afghanistan and Sri Lanka versus Nepal. These fixed pathways mean the quarter-final results will determine the four semi-finalists without changing the structure of the bracket. The two semi-final winners will advance to the gold-medal final on October 3.
First Semi Final Qualification Path
The first semi-final pathway begins with Pakistan versus Hong Kong and Bangladesh versus Malaysia. The winners of those two quarter-finals will meet in the first semi-final on October 1. This side of the bracket therefore contains Pakistan, Hong Kong, Bangladesh and Malaysia. The two quarter-final results will determine which teams eventually contest that semi-final and compete for a place in the gold-medal match.
Second Semi Final Qualification Path
The second semi-final pathway contains India, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka and Nepal. India will first face Afghanistan, while Sri Lanka will meet Nepal in the other quarter-final. The winners of those matches will meet in the second semi-final on October 1. The winner of that match will then advance to the October 3 gold-medal final. This pathway therefore determines one side of the final medal race.
Key Teams and Players to Watch in the Quarter Finals
The quarter-final field combines four seeded teams with four sides that earned qualification through the preliminary stage. India’s squad includes Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, while Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also enter the knockout stage with direct qualification. Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong and Malaysia arrive after competing in the group stage. The different routes have produced a varied quarter-final line-up, with each match now carrying a direct impact on the medal race.
India’s Star-Studded Squad
India’s squad is led by Shreyas Iyer and includes established international players such as Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson. Abhishek Sharma is another important name after his recent performances against Afghanistan, while younger players such as Vaibhav Sooryavanshi are also part of the squad. India enter directly at the quarter-final stage, meaning their first Asian Games match will be a knockout fixture against Afghanistan. The squad combines international experience with younger players as India begin their title defence.
Afghanistan Nepal Hong Kong and Malaysia Bring Different Challenges
The four group-stage qualifiers arrive from different tournament backgrounds. Afghanistan bring international T20 experience and finished second in Group A after beating Japan and losing to Nepal. Nepal topped Group A after defeating Afghanistan and surviving the washout against Japan. Hong Kong finished first in Group B after beating Oman, while Malaysia reached the quarter-finals as runners-up after their opening win over Hong Kong and the washout against Oman. Each team now faces a seeded opponent in the knockout stage.
Asian Games Cricket Quarter Final Key Dates
The men’s Asian Games cricket knockout stage begins on September 28 with Pakistan versus Hong Kong and India versus Afghanistan. Sri Lanka versus Nepal and Bangladesh versus Malaysia follow on September 29. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, with the winners advancing to the gold-medal final. The bronze-medal match and gold-medal final will both take place on October 3. This gives the tournament a clear progression from the quarter-finals through the semi-finals and into the two medal matches.
What the Quarter Finals Mean for the Medal Race
The quarter-finals mark the start of the direct medal race in the men’s Asian Games cricket tournament. Every winner will advance to the semi-finals, while the losing teams will leave the gold-medal race and could move into the bronze-medal pathway depending on the tournament structure. The results on September 28 and 29 will therefore establish the four semi-finalists for October 1. From there, the two semi-final winners will compete for gold, while the remaining teams will have the bronze medal as the final target.
Conclusion
The Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket quarter-final bracket is now set, with Pakistan facing Hong Kong, India meeting Afghanistan, Sri Lanka playing Nepal and Bangladesh taking on Malaysia. The first two quarter-finals will be played on September 28, followed by the remaining two on September 29 at Korogi Sports Park. The winners of Pakistan-Hong Kong and Bangladesh-Malaysia will enter one semi-final pathway, while the India-Afghanistan and Sri Lanka-Nepal winners will enter the other. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, with the bronze-medal match and gold-medal final set for October 3.
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