Pakistan Reach Asian Games Cricket Semi-Final as Hong Kong Match Washes Out
Pakistan's Asian Games quarter-final against Hong Kong was abandoned. Pakistan play Bangladesh or Malaysia on 1 October at 5 am PKT. Times and how to watch.
Pakistan are in the Asian Games 2026 men's cricket semi-final without bowling a ball. Their quarter-final against Hong Kong, China on Monday 28 September was abandoned, and the official results give the match to Pakistan. They now play the winner of Bangladesh against Malaysia on Thursday 1 October at 5:00 am Pakistan time.
We read the official Asian Games results system at about 12:35 pm PKT on 28 September 2026. It lists Quarter-final 1 as "Cancelled", with the result "Match Abandoned", no runs and no overs. Pakistan are marked as the winner and as qualified. Hong Kong, China are marked as the losing side.
The official record does not give a reason. Rain in Japan was widely reported as the cause, and the scorecard of zero overs fits a match where the toss or first ball never came.
Pakistan reach the semi-final after the Hong Kong washout
Pakistan's quarter-final against Hong Kong, China was due at 5:00 am PKT on 28 September at Korogi Athletic Park. No ball was bowled. The official results system records "Match Abandoned" and lists Pakistan as the winner, so Pakistan move into Semi-final 1.
That is a strange way to reach a last four. Pakistan skipped the group stage as a seeded side and have not yet played a match at these Games. Hong Kong, China played two group games, lost to Malaysia and beat Oman, and go home without a chance against Pakistan.
The same thing happened four and a half hours later. Quarter-final 2, India against Afghanistan, is also listed as "Match Abandoned", with India through. So both of Monday's quarter-finals ended without a result on the field.
Higher ranking decided the washed out quarter-final
With no play possible, the side with the higher ranking goes through, according to the tournament's playing conditions as widely reported. Pakistan are ranked above Hong Kong, China in men's T20 cricket, so Pakistan advanced. The official results page confirms the outcome but does not state the rule.
We could not read the playing conditions ourselves. Neither the official results system nor the Pakistan Cricket Board website, which showed us a bot check page on 28 September, carried the text. So treat the ranking rule as reported, not confirmed at source.
The outcome itself is not in doubt. The official record marks Pakistan "W" for won and "Q" for qualified, and Pakistan's name already sits in the Semi-final 1 slot.
The semi-final is on Thursday 1 October at 5:00 am PKT
Pakistan play Semi-final 1 on Thursday 1 October 2026 at 5:00 am PKT, which is 9:00 am in Japan. The venue is again Korogi Athletic Park. Their opponent is the winner of Bangladesh against Malaysia, which is Quarter-final 4 on Tuesday 29 September at 9:30 am PKT.
Japan is four hours ahead of Pakistan. We took four hours off each Japan time in the official schedule to get the Pakistan times below.
| Match | Teams | Date | Time (PKT) | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quarter-final 1 | Pakistan v Hong Kong, China | Mon 28 Sep | 5:00 am | Abandoned, Pakistan through |
| Quarter-final 2 | India v Afghanistan | Mon 28 Sep | 9:30 am | Abandoned, India through |
| Quarter-final 3 | Sri Lanka v Nepal | Tue 29 Sep | 5:00 am | Scheduled |
| Quarter-final 4 | Bangladesh v Malaysia | Tue 29 Sep | 9:30 am | Scheduled |
| Semi-final 1 | Pakistan v winner of QF4 | Thu 1 Oct | 5:00 am | Scheduled |
| Semi-final 2 | India v winner of QF3 | Thu 1 Oct | 9:30 am | Scheduled |
| Bronze medal match | Semi-final losers | Sat 3 Oct | 5:00 am | Scheduled |
| Gold medal match | Semi-final winners | Sat 3 Oct | 9:30 am | Scheduled |
So Pakistan and India are in separate semi-finals. They can only meet in the gold medal match on Saturday 3 October.
Bangladesh or Malaysia will face Pakistan
Pakistan's semi-final opponent is decided on Tuesday 29 September, when Bangladesh play Malaysia at 9:30 am PKT. Bangladesh start as the stronger side on paper. Malaysia reached the quarter-final by beating Hong Kong, China in Group B.
The official results show Malaysia chased 82 against Hong Kong, China for the loss of only two wickets on 24 September. Their second group game, against Oman, was cancelled. Bangladesh, like Pakistan, start at the quarter-final stage.
There is one more thing to watch. If Tuesday's game is also washed out, the same ranking rule would be expected to apply, and that would send Bangladesh through. That is our reading of the reported rule, not an official statement.
How to follow the semi-final from Pakistan
Set an alarm for Thursday. A 5:00 am start means a T20 semi-final should be over by about 8:30 am PKT if the weather holds. Here is how to get ready:
- Check Tuesday's Bangladesh against Malaysia result to know Pakistan's opponent.
- On Wednesday night, open the official Asian Games results site and confirm the 9:00 am Japan start.
- Check the PTV Sports channel listing on Thursday morning before 5:00 am.
- If you stream, update the Tamasha app the night before so it does not stall at the start.
- If rain is forecast, follow the official live page for delays before assuming the match is off.
PTV Sports and the Tamasha app are reported to hold the Pakistan rights, with details in how to watch Pakistan at the Asian Games 2026. Neither broadcaster had confirmed the cricket slot when we checked, so look at the listing on the day.
Where the cricket fits in Pakistan's Asian Games
A men's cricket medal would add to a small Pakistan tally. Pakistan's women already won bronze in the cricket on 22 September, beating Bangladesh by 31 runs. The men now need one win on Thursday to play for gold, and even a semi-final loss leaves a bronze match on Saturday.
Monday was a busy day for Pakistan across other sports too, with hockey and the javelin final both on the programme. The day's full list is in Pakistan's Monday at the Asian Games, and the running medal count is in Pakistan's Asian Games 2026 medals so far. The women's run to bronze is in the Pakistan women's Asian Games cricket results.
Common questions
Did Pakistan beat Hong Kong at the Asian Games 2026?
No match was played. The quarter-final on 28 September was abandoned without a ball bowled, and the official results list Pakistan as the winner and qualified.
Why did Pakistan go through without playing?
The side with the higher ranking goes through when a knockout game is washed out, according to the reported playing conditions. Pakistan rank above Hong Kong, China.
When is Pakistan's Asian Games cricket semi-final?
Thursday 1 October 2026 at 5:00 am PKT, which is 9:00 am in Japan, at Korogi Athletic Park.
Who will Pakistan play in the semi-final?
The winner of Bangladesh against Malaysia, which is played on Tuesday 29 September at 9:30 am PKT.
Can Pakistan and India meet in the Asian Games cricket?
Only in the gold medal match on Saturday 3 October at 9:30 am PKT. They are in different semi-finals.
How we verified this
What we checked, where we read it, and what we could not confirm.
Last checked at about 12:35 pm PKT on Monday 28 September 2026. Every result, time and venue on this page comes from the official Asian Games 2026 results system: the men's cricket schedule and the Quarter-final 1 and Quarter-final 2 result records, which show "Match Abandoned" with Pakistan and India marked as winners and qualified. Pakistan times are Japan times minus four hours. Rain as the cause and the higher ranking rule are widely reported but were not in the official record, and the Pakistan Cricket Board website returned a bot check page when we tried it. The schedule can be checked on the official Asian Games results site. Broadcast details are as reported and not confirmed by PTV Sports or Jazz.
About the author
Author
Shahid joined us in 2024 as an author. He is a senior contributor to Pakistan's leading technology websites. He writes detailed articles, mostly covering his expertise in the latest tech, mobiles, apps, gadgets, and step-by-step guides. His ideology is to help people understand the latest trends and explain complex methods through very easy-to-understand guides.
