The India-Pakistan rivalry will not feature in the early stages of the Nagoya Asian Games. The two teams could still face each other later in the tournament, but only in a match that decides a medal.
India and Pakistan are the top two seeded teams in the men’s competition. There is also a chance that they may not meet at all. If they do cross paths, it will be either in the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal play-off.
Men’s Cricket Draw
The Asian Games will take place from September 19 to October 4. Cricket will begin on September 17 and continue until October 3. The women’s competition will be played first, with the final scheduled for September 22, followed by the men’s event.
A total of 10 teams will compete in the men’s tournament. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have received direct entry into the quarterfinals. The other six teams, including Afghanistan, will have to play in the group stage.
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India are placed in Quarterfinal 2, while Pakistan will play Quarterfinal 1. Both quarterfinals are scheduled for September 28. Their opponents will be decided after the group-stage matches. The semifinal draw keeps India and Pakistan on opposite sides of the bracket. The winner of Quarterfinal 2 will face the winner of Quarterfinal 3, while the winner of Quarterfinal 1 will meet the winner of Quarterfinal 4. The semifinals will be played on October 1.
As a result, India and Pakistan can meet only in the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal play-off. Both medal matches are scheduled for October 3. Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia and Oman will compete in the group stage.
Women’s Competition
The same possibility exists in the women’s tournament. India are the top-seeded team, while Pakistan are seeded fourth behind Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India will face Japan in their quarterfinal. If they advance, they will meet either Bangladesh or Hong Kong, China in the semifinal. Pakistan will take on Thailand in their quarterfinal.
If Pakistan reach the semifinal, they will face either Sri Lanka or Malaysia. This means a potential India-Pakistan women’s clash can also happen only in the final or the bronze-medal play-off. The women’s medal matches are scheduled for September 22. All cricket matches at the Nagoya Asian Games will be played at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.
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