Pakistan, Bangladesh eye Asian Games final after rain-marred quarters
Pakistan have had the wood over Bangladesh, winning 11 of their last 14 T20Is since 2021
The men’s cricket event at this year’s Asian Games has been a damp affair with all four quarterfinals being abandoned without a single delivery bowled. Pakistan and Bangladesh who secured direct entry to the knockouts, have therefore advanced to the semifinals over Nepal and Malaysia respectively by virtue of a superior ICC ranking.
While Pakistan’s contingent doesn’t boast their full-strength T20I squad, Sahibzada Farhan leads a team of seasoned T20 professionals. The squad combines familiar names like Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Haider Ali, Usman Khan and Mohammad Wasim Jr and promising youngsters like Maaz Sadaqat, Saad Masood and Ali Raza.
For Bangladesh, Litton Das returns to the helm after recovering from injury and has a full-strength squad at his disposal. Najmul Hossain Shanto, who last played a T20I for Bangladesh over a year ago, is a notable addition to the squad.
Pakistan have had the wood over Bangladesh, winning 11 of their last 14 T20Is since 2021. But Bangladesh will see an opportunity against a new-look side entering the Asian Games against the backdrop of considerable uncertainty within Pakistan cricket, following the drama surrounding their recent England tour.
For Pakistan, this game presents an opportunity to shift the focus back to cricket and secure an Asian Games medal - something they failed to achieve after losing to Bangladesh in the bronze-medal game in the 2023 edition in Hangzhou.
When: October 1, 2026, 9:00 AM Local, 12:00 AM GMT, 5:30 AM IST
Where: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
What to expect: The group-stage games suggest a slow surface at the Korogi Sports Park, with conditions likely to favour spin. Several days of rain could make the pitch even slower and the outfield sluggish. The forecast, however, is encouraging, with only a 10% chance of rain on match day. Should the game be rained-out, Pakistan will advance to the final.
Team news
Pakistan: No injuries to report.
Probable XI: Sahibzada Farhan (C), Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Haider Ali, Usman Khan (WK), Abdul Samad, Saad Masood/Arafat Minhas, Sufyan Moqim, Mohammad Wasim Jr, Ali Raza/Akif Javed, Abrar Ahmed
Bangladesh: No injuries to report.
Probable XI: Saif Hasan, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Litton Das (C & WK), Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Yasir Ali, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Mustafizur Rahman, Hasan Mahmud
