Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will battle for the bronze medal as both sides look to end their Asian Games campaigns on a positive note and bring some cheer to their respective contingents. Bangladesh head into the third-place playoff after a narrow defeat to Pakistan in the semi-final, while Sri Lanka suffered a heavy loss to India in the other last-four clash. Bangladesh showed plenty of resilience against Pakistan after a difficult start. Towhid Hridoy led the recovery with the bat, but the bowlers were unable to defend a target of 111 in a 13-overs-a-side contest. Mustafizur Rahman, usually one of Bangladesh's dependable performers in T20 cricket, endured an unusually expensive outing as Pakistan chased down the target. Despite the defeat, Bangladesh remained competitive for much of the contest and will take confidence from the performances of several key players. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, will be looking to put their semi-final disappointment behind them. India bowled them out for just 45, their lowest total in T20 internationals. The Sri Lankan innings was further undermined by basic errors, including three run-outs. With Bangladesh able to call upon most of their first-choice players, they enter the bronze-medal match with considerable experience. However, the conditions at Nisshin could make the contest more evenly matched. The pitch has developed significant cracks during the tournament, allowing spinners to generate unusual bounce and making batting challenging. Litton Das Looks to End Poor Run Bangladesh captain Litton Das will be under pressure to rediscover his form. After a difficult tour of Australia, where he registered three consecutive ducks in the Test series, Litton was dismissed for just two against Pakistan. He faced only three deliveries and attempted two reverse-sweeps, with the second attempt resulting in his dismissal. On a pitch offering considerable turn and uneven bounce, Litton struggled to settle. The Bangladesh batter has been an important figure in the team's T20 setup over the past couple of years and will be eager to make a significant contribution in the bronze-medal match. Arachchige Hopes to Lead Sri Lanka's Fightback Sri Lanka captain Sahan Arachchige also had a disappointing outing against India. After Sri Lanka's top three batters were dismissed for ducks, Arachchige scored nine runs before falling while attempting a sweep against Axar Patel. The 30-year-old allrounder did make an impact with the ball, claiming two wickets with his off-spin. He will now hope to produce a stronger all-round performance and inspire Sri Lanka to a medal. Both Teams May Rotate Their Squads With the gold medal already out of reach, both teams could use the bronze-medal match to assess their bench strength and give opportunities to players who have had limited game time. Probable Sri Lanka XI Sineth Jayawardena Lasith Croospulle Sohan de Livera (wk) Nuwanidu Fernando Sahan Arachchige (capt) Ashen Bandara Chamika Karunaratne Wanuja Sahan Tharindu Ratnayake Vijayakanth Viyaskanth Binura Fernando Probable Bangladesh XI Tanzid Hasan Saif Hassan Litton Das (capt) Parvez Hossain Emon (wk) Towhid Hridoy Mosaddek Hossain Mahedi Hasan Rishad Hossain Aliss Al Islam/Nasum Ahmed Shoriful Islam Mustafizur Rahman/Hasan Mahmud Dry Conditions Could Make Spin Crucial Saturday is expected to bring another sunny and dry day in Nisshin as the men's tournament heads toward its conclusion. The surface has developed large cracks during the competition, with spinners repeatedly extracting extra bounce from the edges. Batters from both teams will therefore need to adapt quickly to the conditions, particularly against spin. Key Stats and Trivia Sri Lanka's 45 all out against India was their lowest total in T20 internationals. It was also the second-lowest team total in Asian Games history, behind Mongolia's 41 against Nepal in 2023. Mustafizur Rahman conceded 23 runs in an over against Pakistan, his second-most expensive over in T20 internationals. With a bronze medal at stake, both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have plenty to play for. For Bangladesh, it is an opportunity to bounce back from their semi-final defeat, while Sri Lanka will be determined to erase the memory of their collapse against India. The conditions at Nisshin could make for another intriguing contest as both sides fight to finish their Asian Games campaigns with a medal.

India produced a dominant all-round performance to storm into the final of the 2026 Asian Games men's T20 competition, defeating Sri Lanka by a massive 124 runs on Thursday. India posted 169 for 7, powered by a brilliant unbeaten 80 off 46 balls from Ishan Kishan, before Jasprit Bumrah and the Indian bowling attack dismantled Sri Lanka for just 45 runs. The victory also set up a highly anticipated India-Pakistan final, with the gold medal now at stake. Kishan's aggressive knock proved decisive on a difficult batting surface. The pitch was filled with cracks and offered considerable assistance to the bowlers, making India's total of 169 a challenging one. Kishan survived several nervous moments, miscued a number of aerial strokes that landed safely, and was eventually dropped by Nuwanidu Fernando when he was on 56. He made the most of the reprieve, finishing unbeaten on 80 and steering India to a formidable total. India's innings also received valuable support from Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who scored 38, while Sri Lanka's bowlers Arachchige and Ratnayake claimed two wickets apiece. Sri Lanka's chase, however, quickly turned into a nightmare. Jasprit Bumrah delivered a superb spell, bowling Test-match lengths and exploiting the unpredictable surface to make life extremely difficult for the Sri Lankan batters. He finished with 2 for 7. Axar Patel was equally effective, conceding very little and producing 14 dot balls on his way to figures of 2 for 8. Abhishek Sharma also claimed two wickets for just two runs. Sri Lanka's batting collapse was compounded by poor running between the wickets, with the visitors suffering three run-outs, including two involving members of their top four. India eventually completed the rout with a team hat-trick, dismissing Sri Lanka for just 45 runs. The total was Sri Lanka's lowest in the match and the second-lowest score in men's Asian Games cricket. It also equalled the lowest total recorded by a Full Member side in men's T20Is, matching West Indies' 45 against England in 2019. With the emphatic victory, defending champions India secured their place in the 2026 Asian Games final, where they will face arch-rivals Pakistan in a contest that will decide the men's cricket gold medal.

Abdul Samad produced a stunning late assault as Pakistan defeated Bangladesh by six wickets to secure a place in the Asian Games gold-medal match. Chasing a revised target in a 13-over contest because of a wet outfield, Pakistan reached 112 for four with nine balls to spare. Samad remained unbeaten on 30 off just 15 deliveries, smashing five fours and a six. Hasan Nawaz provided valuable support with an unbeaten 27 from 22 balls as the pair added 59 runs for the fifth wicket to guide Pakistan home. Bangladesh had earlier posted 111 for seven after being asked to bat. Towhid Hridoy top-scored with 42, while Pakistan's Moqim claimed three wickets for 26 runs and Minhas took two for 23. Bangladesh Strike Early Pakistan's chase got off to a shaky start when captain Sahibzada Farhan was caught at long-on off Mahedi Hasan in the opening over. Maaz Sadaqat briefly threatened to accelerate the innings, hitting Nasum Ahmed for a straight six and a swept four. However, Nasum responded by dismissing Sadaqat in the second over. Saim Ayub followed a similar pattern. He attacked Mustafizur Rahman with two sixes and further boundaries, but was dismissed at the end of the fourth over after handing a catch to deep midwicket. Usman Khan also failed to convert his start, falling to Rishad Hossain in the seventh over while attempting a reverse sweep. Samad Takes Control With Pakistan needing momentum, Hasan Nawaz finally found his range, striking Nasum for two sixes late in the eighth over. Samad then took charge of the chase. The left-hander launched Mustafizur over long-on for his first six before finding the boundary repeatedly through point, midwicket and fine leg. An inside edge also raced away for four as Pakistan's required rate quickly became manageable. Samad completed the victory in the 12th over, smashing his fifth boundary straight down the ground to finish an unbeaten 30 from 15 balls. His explosive innings, combined with Nawaz's composed support, ensured Pakistan advanced to the Asian Games gold-medal match after a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and Pakistan will be hoping the weather stays clear as they prepare to face each other in the Asian Games semi-final in Nisshin on Thursday, with a place in the gold-medal match at stake. Pakistan will advance to the final if rain prevents the semi-final from taking place, owing to their higher seeding. However, the forecast currently offers some encouragement, with plenty of sunshine and warm conditions expected on match day. Bangladesh will look to carry their recent consistency into the contest. Their batting line-up features several players in good touch, with Tanzid Hasan among the key names after recently scoring a Test century in Australia. Towhid Hridoy has also been in impressive form, having made an unbeaten 350 in a South Africa 'A' four-day match. Pakistan, meanwhile, will rely heavily on captain Sahibzada Farhan to provide a strong start. Hasan Nawaz and Usman Khan are expected to play important roles in the middle order, while Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub and Arafat Minhas add further batting depth. Bangladesh possess greater bowling experience Bangladesh appear to have the more experienced bowling attack, a factor that could prove important in unfamiliar conditions. Their spin department includes Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Mahedi Hasan and Mosaddek Hossain, all of whom have international experience. In the pace department, Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam and Hasan Mahmud provide further quality. Pakistan's bowling unit is comparatively less experienced, but Sufyan Moqim enters the tournament in excellent form. He claimed 12 wickets in five innings in the CPL, including four-wicket hauls in his final two matches. Abrar Ahmed also has the ability to change the game with his variations. Mustafizur, Farhan key players For Bangladesh, Mustafizur Rahman could be particularly important. His ability to control the innings with the new ball and at the death makes him one of the team's most experienced white-ball performers. His contest with Pakistan's top-order batters, particularly Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub and Maaz Sadaqat, could have a significant influence on the match. Farhan, meanwhile, has been Pakistan's leading run-scorer in T20Is this year and has enjoyed success against Bangladesh. In four T20I meetings, he has scored 74 and 63 in addition to two low scores. Pakistan will hope he can once again provide the platform for their powerful middle order. Probable XIs Bangladesh: Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (captain/wicketkeeper), Parvez Hossain Emon, Towhid Hridoy, Yasir Ali, Mahedi Hasan/Mosaddek Hossain, Rishad Hossain, Al Islam, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman. Pakistan: Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Maaz Sadaqat, Saim Ayub, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Abrar Ahmed, Ali Raza, Mohammad Wasim, Sufyan Moqim. Both sides are expected to strengthen their batting depth while also keeping several spin options available, depending on the conditions. Rain remains the biggest concern The major uncertainty surrounding the semi-final is the weather. Recent matches at the venue have been heavily affected by rain, and drainage problems could once again become a major factor. If the forecast holds and the rain stays away, the teams should get an opportunity to compete for a place in the final. However, scoring could remain difficult if the pitch behaves as it has throughout the tournament. With both teams possessing dangerous batting and varied bowling attacks, the Bangladesh-Pakistan semi-final promises a closely contested battle—provided the weather allows the contest to begin.

Bangladesh have advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Games men's cricket tournament after their group-stage match against Malaysia was abandoned due to rain on Tuesday. The match was called off around two hours before the scheduled toss, with both teams instructed not to travel to the venue as persistent rain made play impossible. The abandonment marked the fourth rain-affected match of the tournament. Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals by virtue of their higher seeding and will now face Pakistan on October 1. Earlier on Tuesday, another quarter-final fixture between Sri Lanka and Nepal was also abandoned because of rain. Sri Lanka advanced to the semi-finals, where they will take on India. Despite the series of washouts, there is optimism that the weather will improve in time for the crucial knockout matches. Forecasts for Nisshin indicate better conditions for the semi-finals on October 1 and the medal matches on October 3. Bangladesh will be looking to build on their record in the Asian Games. At the 2023 edition, they were defeated by India in the semi-final before beating Pakistan in the third-place playoff to secure the bronze medal. The Bangladesh side also won bronze at the 2014 Asian Games. Their best performance came in 2010, when they claimed the gold medal after defeating Afghanistan in the final. With a place in the semi-finals now secured, Bangladesh will face Pakistan with a spot in the gold-medal match at stake.

 Sri Lanka have advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Games men's cricket tournament after their quarter-final against Nepal was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Nisshin on Tuesday. The match was called off before the toss after persistent rain began several hours before the scheduled 9am local start. With the conditions showing little sign of improving, officials were forced to abandon the contest without play. Sri Lanka's progression was confirmed because of their higher seeding based on the ICC T20I rankings. Sri Lanka, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh entered the tournament as the four seeded teams and were consequently given an advantage in the event of rain-affected quarter-finals. India had secured their place in the semi-finals on Monday after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was also washed out. Pakistan similarly advanced after their last-eight clash against Hong Kong was abandoned due to rain. Sri Lanka had been eliminated at the quarter-final stage in the 2022 Asian Games after losing to Afghanistan. This time, however, they have moved into the last four without taking the field. The weather has already played a significant role in determining the semi-final line-up. Bangladesh's quarter-final against Malaysia was also washed out a few hours after the Sri Lanka-Nepal game, confirming Bangladesh's place in the semi-finals. As a result, Bangladesh will take on Pakistan in the first semi-final on October 1, while India will face Sri Lanka later the same day. Another washout in the India-Sri Lanka semi-final would see India progress to the final by virtue of their higher seeding.

India captain Shreyas Iyer has urged his team to adapt quickly to challenging conditions as India begin their campaign in the Asian Games men’s cricket competition against Afghanistan on Monday. India, one of the four highest-ranked teams in the competition, qualified directly for the quarter-finals. Their opening opponents, Afghanistan, have already played two matches in the tournament, winning one and losing one, giving them some early experience of the conditions in Aichi-Nagoya. India enter the contest with confidence after recently completing a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Afghanistan in Delhi. However, Iyer believes his side cannot afford to underestimate their opponents or the conditions. “Not just Afghanistan, no team can be taken lightly at any stage. Just look at how tough Japan made it for us the other day,” Iyer said. The Indian team’s recent match against Japan was reduced to a five-overs-a-side contest because of rain, highlighting the unpredictable weather conditions. Several matches in the competition have already been affected by rain, with two of the six first-round men’s matches called off. Rain and thunderstorms are again forecast for Monday, but Iyer said India would not use the weather as an excuse. “There is rain, but we can’t use that as an excuse. As professionals, we will come across hurdles and we have to be prepared,” he said. Iyer stressed the importance of remaining mentally prepared regardless of the conditions and adapting to the pitch as quickly as possible. “We have to be mentally prepared irrespective of whatever the situation is going to be. We did get a decent chance to warm up and knock the ball around today, and now the task is to adapt quickly to the pitch.” India’s preparation was also disrupted by heavy rain. The team had hoped for a training session but were instead greeted by torrential rain at the venue. Despite the conditions, the players made the most of the limited opportunity they had, with the batters getting some time in the nets while the bowlers completed a few overs and strides in the outfield. “We are trying to maximise the best we could,” Iyer said. Iyer embraces Asian Games experience For Iyer, representing India at a multi-sport event such as the Asian Games offers a different experience from the bilateral and cricket-only tournaments the team normally participates in. Cricket has featured at the Asian Games on four occasions, including the recent editions, while the sport is also set to return to the Olympic stage at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. Iyer said the Asian Games provide players with an opportunity to experience a different sporting environment while representing their country. “I personally feel it’s a great opportunity for everyone to come and represent their own countries, and at the same time, the conditions are challenging,” he said. The India captain also praised the athletes competing across different sports at the Games and expressed his hope that the country can enjoy success across disciplines. “It’s an honour to be representing India in the Asian Games and captaining it at the same time. I feel there are a talented bunch of athletes who have come representing different sports.” Iyer added that he would like to watch some of the other events if the opportunity arises, saying the performances of Indian athletes could provide motivation ahead of the Olympics. For now, however, India’s focus remains on adapting to the conditions and getting their Asian Games campaign off to a strong start against Afghanistan.

Rain could play a major role in the Asian Games quarter-final between India and Afghanistan, with heavy showers forecast in Nisshin on Monday threatening to disrupt the highly anticipated T20 clash. India enter the match as the clear favorites on paper after recently completing a 3-0 T20I series sweep against Afghanistan. However, the Afghanistan side arriving in Japan is vastly different from the team that featured in that bilateral series. Afghanistan have sent a second-string squad to the Asian Games, with only captain Darwish Rasooli and Abdollah Ahmadzai retained from the 15-player squad that toured India. The current squad includes six uncapped players, while five others have played fewer than 10 international matches. The difference in experience between the two teams is significant. Afghanistan's squad has a combined 262 T20I appearances, compared with 872 for India's players. Established stars such as Rashid Khan, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Mohammad Nabi are absent, although Nabi's 20-year-old son Hassan Eisakhil is part of the Afghanistan squad. India, meanwhile, have sent a strong squad to Japan despite their home ODI series against West Indies beginning at the same time. The move underlines India's depth in white-ball cricket, allowing them to field a separate squad at the Asian Games while their senior ODI side competes at home. India also come into the quarter-final in strong form, having won their last five completed matches. Afghanistan have struggled, losing four of their last five completed games, including a defeat against Nepal shortly before the quarter-final. Washington Sundar in focus Washington Sundar is one of the players India will be monitoring closely. The all-rounder returned to action in India's rain-affected T20I against Japan last week after spending two months on the sidelines. Sundar bowled two overs and claimed two wickets in his comeback match but did not get an opportunity to bat. India could use the quarter-final to give him additional game time before he returns home for the T20I series against West Indies beginning October 6. Sundar has enjoyed an impressive year across formats when fit, including an unbeaten 52 in an ODI and a four-wicket haul in a Test against Afghanistan, where he also scored an unbeaten 52. For Afghanistan, pace-bowling all-rounder Ismat Alam could be one to watch. The 24-year-old has played two Tests and one T20I and was the Player of the Tournament in Afghanistan's Shpageeza Cricket League after scoring 294 runs at a strike rate of 168 and taking nine wickets. Alam also made a memorable Test debut last year, scoring a lower-order century that helped Afghanistan secure victory over Zimbabwe. India face selection dilemma India rested Jasprit Bumrah during their one-off T20I against Japan, with Arshdeep Singh and Yash Thakur providing the pace options alongside legspinner Ravi Bishnoi and spin-bowling all-rounders Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Bumrah is expected to return for the quarter-final, leaving India with a selection decision over their bowling combination. Another question is whether India will give teenage batter Vaibhav Sooryavanshi an opportunity early in the tournament. Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson, however, are likely to retain their places after producing strong performances during India's recent series against Afghanistan. India probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer (capt), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Yash Thakur/Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah. Afghanistan, meanwhile, handed Faisal Shinozada his T20I debut against Nepal. He top-scored for his side alongside experienced batter Najibullah Zadran, the only two Afghanistan players to reach double figures in that match. Afghanistan probable XI: Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Karim Janat, Darwish Rasooli (capt), Najibullah Zadran, Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Ismat Alam, Nangeyalia Khan, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Faridoon Dawoodzai, Arab Gul. Rain could decide the contest Weather is expected to be a major factor, with heavy rain forecast in Nisshin. The previous two matches at the venue, both played on Friday, were also washed out. If the India-Afghanistan quarter-final is abandoned, India will advance to the next stage because of their higher seeding based on the ICC T20I rankings. The weather threat adds further uncertainty to a contest that already has a substantial experience gap between the two teams. India hold dominant record India and Afghanistan previously met in the Asian Games final in 2023, but that match was abandoned because of rain, with India awarded the gold medal. Afghanistan are also yet to defeat India in a T20I. Their closest opportunity came during the dramatic double-Super-Over encounter in Bengaluru in 2024. Afghanistan's inexperience is likely to be tested again against a strong Indian side, with the conditions potentially becoming as important as the teams themselves. India captain Shreyas Iyer highlighted the challenge posed by the venue and conditions, saying, "The wicket here is not set as per a particular standard, so adaptation is very important. It will be challenging and difficult for every team." With another torrential downpour already reported in the area, the biggest battle on Monday could ultimately be between the two teams and the weather.

India will face Afghanistan in the quarter-finals of the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games, setting up a repeat of the gold-medal clash from the previous edition in Hangzhou. The quarter-final line-up was confirmed after four teams advanced from the short group-stage phase. Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka had already secured direct entry into the last eight as the top-seeded teams. Nepal and Afghanistan progressed from Group A, while Malaysia and Hong Kong advanced from Group B. Hosts Japan were eliminated after their match against Nepal was abandoned, while Oman also missed out after their fixture against Malaysia was washed out without a ball being bowled. Rain Threatens Quarter-Finals Weather could once again play a major role in the knockout stage. Rain disrupted the group matches on Saturday, and forecasts indicate that Monday and Tuesday could bring further interruptions. The AccuWeather forecast for Monday indicates a 91% chance of rain during the daytime, along with a 22% chance of thunderstorms. Tuesday is expected to have an 89% chance of rain and an 18% chance of thundershowers. According to Cricinfo, if a quarter-final is abandoned without a result, the higher-seeded team based on the ICC's official T20I rankings will be declared the winner. The weather outlook is expected to improve later in the tournament, with more favourable conditions forecast for the semi-finals on Thursday and the medal playoffs on Saturday. India and Afghanistan Set for Rematch India enter the quarter-final as the defending Asian Games champions. They won the gold medal in Hangzhou in October 2023 after defeating Afghanistan in the final. Bangladesh claimed the bronze medal in the previous edition after beating Pakistan in the third-place playoff. The upcoming quarter-final will therefore give Afghanistan an opportunity to face India again on the Asian Games stage, while India will look to continue their title defence and progress to the semi-finals.

Japan’s hopes of reaching the quarter-finals of the Asian Games came to an end after rain washed out their steep run chase against Nepal on Saturday. Nepal were declared Group A winners after posting 149 for 4 in their allotted innings, with Sundeep Jora and Lokesh Bam producing unbeaten half-centuries. Japan were then denied the opportunity to chase the target as persistent rain prevented their innings from getting underway. Japan needed to score 150 runs in just 15 overs, making it a challenging chase from the outset. However, the weather ensured they would never discover whether they could have mounted a serious challenge. Nepal’s innings was interrupted by rain, including another stoppage during the fifth over. Despite the disruptions, they recovered strongly after losing several early wickets. Aasif Sheikh provided some momentum with a 15-ball 21, while Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla and Gulsan Jha were dismissed for single-digit scores. Jora then combined with Sheikh for a 55-run partnership for the second wicket before taking charge alongside Bam. At the end of 10 overs, Nepal were 84 for 4, but the final five overs transformed their total. Bam launched an aggressive assault, smashing an unbeaten 52 from just 22 balls, including one four and six sixes. Jora also remained unbeaten, finishing with 57 from 32 balls, hitting five fours and three sixes. Their late partnership gave Nepal a formidable total of 149 for 4. Japan’s bowlers had earlier shown promise during their opening match against Afghanistan and also impressed against India in a one-off T20I before the Asian Games. However, their batting remained a weakness throughout the campaign. With the match abandoned, Nepal finished top of Group A, while Afghanistan joined them in qualifying for the quarter-finals. Japan were eliminated from the competition, ending a campaign in which they showed flashes of competitiveness despite falling short with the bat.

Nepal opened their Asian Games cricket campaign with a five-wicket victory over Afghanistan, riding on impressive spells from spinners Lalit Rajbanshi and Kushal Bhurtel. After being asked to bat first, Afghanistan struggled against Nepal’s disciplined bowling attack and were restricted to 102 for 7 in their 20 overs. Rajbanshi struck three times during the powerplay, while Bhurtel finished with an excellent 4 for 21 from his four overs. Afghanistan were in serious trouble at 16 for 3 in the fifth over, with Rajbanshi claiming all three wickets. Faisal Ahmadzai, making his T20I debut, and Najibullah Zadran then scored 30 each to help Afghanistan recover and post a competitive total. However, Bhurtel returned to dismantle Afghanistan’s middle order, ensuring that no batter apart from Najibullah and Ahmadzai managed to cross the 20-run mark. Nepal’s chase got off to a shaky start when Bhurtel was dismissed for a duck in the opening over. The hosts were further reduced to 31 for 3 by the seventh over, leaving the game finely balanced. Sundeep Jora then played a crucial innings of 34 to steady the chase, while former captain Rohit Paudel remained unbeaten on 33. Paudel and Gulsan Jha guided Nepal across the finish line in the 18th over, with Nepal reaching 103 for 5 to seal victory with 16 balls to spare. The result gave Nepal a winning start to their Asian Games campaign, while Afghanistan suffered their first defeat of the competition after opening with a victory over Japan. Rajbanshi’s early breakthroughs and Bhurtel’s four-wicket haul proved decisive as Nepal’s spin attack set up a convincing opening win.

Hong Kong secured their first points in the Asian Games men's cricket competition with a convincing 41-run victory over Oman in a low-scoring contest on Friday. Batting first, Hong Kong posted 121 for 8 after struggling to score freely in the conditions. Despite appearing below par initially, their total proved more than enough as Oman were restricted to 80 for 6 in their allotted overs. The top score of the match was just 33, highlighting the difficulty both teams faced while batting. Hong Kong suffered early setbacks after choosing to bat. Sufyan Mehmood dismissed Nizakat Khan, while Shuaib Al Balushi removed Anshy Rath inside the opening three overs. Babar Hayat and Hafeez Khan then steadied the innings with a 51-run partnership for the third wicket. Hafeez top-scored with 33 off 37 balls, while Hayat contributed 23 from 25 deliveries. After both batters departed between the 11th and 14th overs, Hong Kong again struggled to maintain momentum. Mohammed Al Balushi claimed three wickets and put further pressure on the batting side. However, Yasim Murtaza and Ehsan Khan added a valuable 25 runs from just 17 balls for the eighth wicket. Murtaza remained unbeaten on 18 off 14 balls, while Ehsan scored 16 from 10 as Hong Kong crossed the six-runs-per-over mark. Oman found the chase even more difficult. Hong Kong's Ayush Shukla produced a superb opening spell, claiming three wickets before the end of the fifth over. At one stage, Shukla had figures of 3 for 13 from his first three overs, leaving Oman in serious trouble. Although Shukla did not add another wicket, Hong Kong's other bowlers maintained tight control. Ehsan Khan conceded only five runs per over, while left-arm spinner Yasim Murtaza and legspinner Mohammad Ghazanfar combined to take 2 for 19 from their eight overs. Oman's chase effectively collapsed before the halfway stage, with Shuaib Al Balushi eventually falling for 20 off 26 balls. Captain Sufyan Mehmood was Oman's top scorer with an unbeaten 26, but he needed 35 balls to reach that score. No Oman batter managed to score at a strike rate above 100, with Shuaib Al Balushi's 76.92 being the highest among their batters. Oman eventually finished on 80 for 6, handing Hong Kong a 41-run victory. The result moved Hong Kong to second place in Group B and gave them their first points of the competition. Oman, however, still have an opportunity to draw level on points when they face Malaysia, who had earlier defeated Hong Kong.