- Persistent rain in the city made it impossible for the match to start.
- The first quarter-final between Pakistan and Hong Kong was also washed out.
- India progressed to the last four on the basis of their superior position.
India’s men’s cricket team advanced to the semi-final of the Asian Games 2026 without taking the field after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was abandoned without a toss due to adverse weather conditions in Nagoya on Monday.
Persistent rain in the city made it impossible for the match to get underway, with even a shortened contest becoming increasingly unlikely.
With no play possible, India progressed to the last four on the basis of their superior position in the ICC T20I rankings.
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India are currently ranked No. 1 in the ICC T20I rankings, while Afghanistan sit at No. 10. The ranking rule therefore handed the defending champions a place in the semi-final.
It was a disappointment for the Indian cricket fans who were very excited to see their favorite team play once again against Afghanistan, whom they met recently.
India To Face Nepal Or Sri Lanka
India will now face the winner of the quarter-final between Nepal and Sri Lanka in the semi-final.
If that match is also abandoned because of the weather, Sri Lanka will advance on the basis of their higher ICC T20I ranking and face India in the last four.
The weather has been a major concern throughout the cricket schedule in Nagoya, with consistent rainfall reported over the past few days.
The conditions on Monday eventually resulted in the India-Afghanistan quarter-final being called off without a single ball being bowled. The ground inspection commitee after seeing the conditions decided to call-off the game.
Pakistan Also Advance After Washout
India were not the only team to benefit from the ranking rule on Monday.
The first quarter-final between Pakistan and Hong Kong was also washed out due to adverse weather conditions. Pakistan progressed to the semi-final because of their higher position in the ICC T20I rankings.
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The results mean weather could have a major bearing on the medal race if rain continues to disrupt the knockout stage.
In fact, if all the remaining matches are washed out and no further play is possible, India could potentially be awarded the gold medal because of their No. 1 ranking.
As of now, the defending champions have secured their place in the semi-final without playing their quarter-final. They will await the outcome of the Nepal-Sri Lanka clash to discover their next opponent.