Rain has taken Pakistan into the Asian Games men’s cricket semi-finals on Monday after persistent showers disrupted the quarter-final against Hong Kong, China, in Nisshin, Japan.
The match at Korogi Sports Park ended without a toss, advancing Pakistan advanced as the better-ranked side while Hong Kong’s campaign came to an end.
Pakistan entered the knockout stage directly, along with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka on the basis of their rankings. Hong Kong earned their quarter-final place by finishing second in Group B with two points, while Malaysia topped the group with three. Rain also abandoned Hong Kong’s final group fixture against Oman without a ball bowled.
Pakistan travelled to Japan after a four-day training camp in Karachi, where the squad worked on the conditions expected at the Games and practised different match scenarios. Overnight rain and a wet outfield also disrupted their training session in Nisshin on Sunday.
Sahibzada Farhan captains the 15-member squad, which includes T20 internationals Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Haider Ali and Mohammad Wasim Jr., and Mike Hesson is the head coach.
Pakistan will play their semi-final on October 1, with the bronze-medal match and the final scheduled for October 3.
