India reach Asian Games semi-finals after Afghanistan washout

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India advanced to the men’s cricket semi-finals at the 2026 Asian Games after persistent rain forced the quarter-final against Afghanistan in Nisshin, Japan, to be abandoned without a ball bowled.

Steady rain kept the pitch covered, and officials called off the match when conditions showed no sign of improving. India progressed under the tournament’s knockout rules, according to the original report.

India await Sri Lanka-Nepal quarter-final winner

India will face the winner of the Sri Lanka-Nepal quarter-final in the semi-finals as the defending champions continue their attempt to retain the men’s cricket gold medal.

India won the men’s title at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou after the final against Afghanistan was washed out. India were awarded the gold medal following that abandonment.

Shreyas Iyer leads India’s Asian Games squad

Shreyas Iyer is captaining India at the 2026 Asian Games, with Tilak Varma serving as vice-captain and VVS Laxman working as the stand-in head coach.

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India’s squad also includes Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Yash Thakur.

Pakistan also progress following rain

Pakistan also reached the men’s semi-finals without playing after rain caused the quarter-final against Hong Kong, China, to be abandoned. Pakistan advanced because of a higher ranking than Hong Kong.

India’s women’s team had already retained the Asian Games title in Aichi-Nagoya. Harmanpreet Kaur’s side defeated Sri Lanka by 147 runs in the final to win the gold medal.