Pakistan will play Bangladesh in the semi-finals of the Asian Games men’s cricket tournament after rain in Japan washed out every one of the four quarter-finals without a ball being bowled, sending the higher-ranked teams through.
Bangladesh and Sri Lanka joined Pakistan and India in the last four on Tuesday after their matches were abandoned, AFP reported.
The semi-final line-up
| Semi-final | Day |
|---|---|
| Pakistan v Bangladesh | Thursday morning |
| India v Sri Lanka | Thursday afternoon |
How the quarter-finals ended
| Quarter-final | Result |
|---|---|
| Pakistan v Hong Kong | Washed out on Monday; Pakistan advance |
| India v Afghanistan | Washed out on Monday; India advance |
| Sri Lanka v Nepal | Washed out on Tuesday; Sri Lanka advance |
| Bangladesh v Malaysia | Washed out on Tuesday; Bangladesh advance |
Under the tournament rules, when a knockout match produces no result, the higher-ranked team goes through. That meant Pakistan reached the semi-finals, as The Indus Compass reported on Monday, without having to beat Hong Kong on the field.
A baseball field turned cricket ground
The cricket event is being played in Nagoya on a converted baseball field at Korogi Athletic Park, and heavy rain has made play impossible for days.
Tournament official Jarrad Shearer described the effort to dry the ground, using equipment known as “soppers” along with squeegees, brooms and sponges. “Cricket, like baseball, you can’t play it in the rain,” he said.
Better weather on the way
There is hope for the semi-finals. Forecasters expect the weather to improve from Wednesday, with sunshine and temperatures of around 32°C, which should give the ground time to dry before Thursday’s matches.
India the holders
India are the reigning Asian Games champions. Four nations have now reached the semi-finals without any of the quarter-finals being completed, leaving the tournament’s knockout stage to be decided in the final few days.
Pakistan v Bangladesh
Pakistan go into the semi-final against Bangladesh without having played a knockout match, after their quarter-final was abandoned. A win on Thursday would put them in the final against either India or Sri Lanka, with a medal guaranteed for the finalists.
What if it rains again?
If rain returns, seeding could decide matches again. According to ESPNcricinfo, if the weather prevents a semi-final or its Super Over from being completed, the higher seed goes through to the final, and India and Pakistan are the higher seeds in their matches. Because of the weather and the seedings, none of the four semi-finalists has yet bowled a ball in the tournament.
Bangladesh will also be without batter Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been ruled out of the tournament with a fever and infection.
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Why it matters
After days of frustration in Nagoya, the tournament finally has a shot at a proper finish. For Pakistan, the semi-final against Bangladesh on Thursday is the chance to earn a place in the final on merit, rather than through the rain.
This article draws on reporting by AFP, Dawn and ESPNcricinfo.
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