India, Pakistan could face off in Asian Games 2026 cricket final
Women’s competition begins days before the men’s tournament gets underway
DUBAI – The Asian Cricket Council has confirmed the schedule for the cricket competitions at the 2026 Asian Games, with India and Pakistan kept apart until the medal matches in the men’s event.
The two arch-rivals could meet only in the final or bronze-medal play-off, both scheduled for October 3. The cricket competitions will be staged in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the women’s tournament running from September 17 to 22 and the men’s event from September 24 to October 3.
All matches will be played in the T20 format. The official Aichi-Nagoya Games information lists Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin City as the cricket venue, with a purpose-developed natural-grass cricket ground built to international competition standards.
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— AsianCricketCouncil (@ACCMedia1) September 7, 2026
The 20th Asian Games will see the women’s tournament get underway on September 17 ~ followed by the men’s competition from September 24! ????#AsianGames2026 #ACC pic.twitter.com/bOamnB5sya
Women’s event
Pakistan’s women will begin their campaign on September 17 against Thailand in the fourth quarter-final, with the match scheduled for 2pm local time. India will face Japan in the other quarter-final on September 18, while Bangladesh will meet China and Sri Lanka will take on Malaysia.
The women’s semi-finals are scheduled for September 20, followed by the bronze-medal match and final on September 22. Pakistan have a strong history in the event, having won gold at the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games, although they finished fourth at the most recent edition in Hangzhou. India are the defending champions after winning the women’s gold medal in 2023.
Men’s competition
The men’s competition will feature 10 teams, with Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal placed in Group A, while Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Oman will compete in Group B. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been seeded directly into the quarter-finals, meaning they will not play in the preliminary group stage. The top two teams from each group will join the four seeded sides in the knockout phase.
The group stage will run from September 24 to 26. Pakistan will play their quarter-final on September 28 against the runners-up from Group B, while India will face the Group A runners-up later that day. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will enter the other two quarter-finals on September 29.
The semi-finals are set for October 1, with the bronze-medal match and final scheduled for October 3. Under the draw, India and Pakistan cannot face each other before the medal matches, setting up the possibility of another high-profile encounter if both progress through the knockout stage.
India vs Pakistan
India enter the men’s competition as defending champions after receiving the gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Their final against Afghanistan ended without a result, with India awarded the title on the basis of their higher seeding.
Pakistan, meanwhile, missed out on a medal in the men’s competition in Hangzhou after losing the bronze-medal match to Bangladesh by six wickets. Bangladesh claimed third place, while Pakistan finished fourth.
The women’s tournament in Hangzhou also ended with India taking gold, Sri Lanka winning silver and Bangladesh securing bronze after defeating Pakistan. India will therefore enter the Aichi-Nagoya Games seeking to defend both cricket titles.
For Pakistan, the men’s side will be led by Sahibzada Farhan, while Fatima Sana has been named captain of the women’s team. Pakistan’s men’s squad includes Saim Ayub, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz and Usman Khan, while the women’s squad features Fatima Sana, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Aliya Riaz and Nashra Sundhu.
Men’s schedule
Group A: Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal
Group B: Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Oman
September 24
9am: Afghanistan vs Japan
2pm: Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia
September 25
9am: Hong Kong, China vs Oman
2pm: Afghanistan vs Nepal
September 26
9am: Japan vs Nepal
2pm: Malaysia vs Oman
September 28
9am: Pakistan vs Group B runners-up
1.30pm: India vs Group A runners-up
September 29
9am: Sri Lanka vs Group A winners
1.30pm: Bangladesh vs Group B winners
October 1
9am: Semi-final 1
1.30pm: Semi-final 2
October 3
9am: Bronze-medal match
1.30pm: Final
Women’s schedule
September 17
9am: Bangladesh vs China
2pm: Pakistan vs Thailand
September 18
9am: Sri Lanka vs Malaysia
2pm: India vs Japan
September 20
9am: Semi-final 1
2pm: Semi-final 2
September 22
9am: Bronze-medal match
2pm: Final