NISSHIN (Kashmir English): Pakistan progressed to the semi-finals of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games 2026 without having bowled a ball.
Pakistan will meet either Bangladesh or Malaysia in the semi-finals on October 1 after being granted direct entry into this stage based on their position in the ICC T20I rankings.
With captain Sahibzada Farhan leading the side, the team progressed to the semi-finals while Hong Kong bowed out of the tournament after being unable to bat against Pakistan.
The bronze medal playoff game and final will be held on October 3. Pakistan automatically qualified for the quarter-finals as one of the top-ranked nations in the world, whereas Hong Kong qualified for the quarter-finals by finishing second in Group B.
Pakistan cricket team departs for Japan for Asian Games
Earlier, the Pakistan men’s cricket team departed for Japan to participate in the Asian Games.
The national team traveled from Karachi via Dubai to Japan, where Pakistan will begin its campaign in the quarter-final stage on September 28.
Sahibzada Farhan will lead the Pakistan men’s team at the Asian Games. Prior to their departure, the team participated in a four-day training camp in Karachi to prepare for the tournament.
Speaking to the media in Karachi, Sahibzada Farhan stated that Pakistan’s goal at the Asian Games is to win the gold medal.
He noted that playing conditions in Japan differ from those in Pakistan, but the team had prepared at home with these specific conditions in mind. While weather and playing conditions are beyond their control, a player must be ready for any situation.
Farhan mentioned that although there are new players in the squad, everyone possesses international cricket experience, and Haider Ali appears to be in excellent form.
The national captain remarked that winning the gold medal requires defeating top teams; therefore, the team is focused on the entire tournament rather than just a single match.
