Sri Lanka progressed to the Asian Games semi-finals after persistent rain abandoned their quarter-final against Nepal without a ball being bowled.
Sri Lanka have advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Games men’s cricket tournament after their quarter-final against Nepal was abandoned in Nisshin, Japan.
The match was called off before the toss, with rain having begun several hours before the scheduled 9am local start and continuing throughout the morning.
Under the tournament’s playing conditions, Sri Lanka progressed because of their higher seeding based on the ICC T20I rankings.
Rain Continues to Decide the Knockout Stage
Sri Lanka were one of four seeded teams alongside India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, all of whom entered the quarter-finals directly.
The weather has now affected every quarter-final involving a seeded side.
India advanced after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was abandoned, while Pakistan progressed following the washout of their match against Hong Kong.
Sri Lanka’s quarter-final was the third such match to be decided without a ball being bowled.
India Await in the Semi-Final
Sri Lanka will now face India in the second semi-final on October 1.
The other semi-final will see Pakistan take on Bangladesh, after Bangladesh’s quarter-final against Malaysia was also abandoned later in the day.
Bangladesh advanced on the basis of their higher seeding, completing a knockout line-up in which all four seeded teams have progressed despite the lack of cricket in the quarter-finals.
Another Washout Could Decide the Finalists
Sri Lanka were eliminated at the quarter-final stage by Afghanistan in the 2022 Asian Games.
This time, however, they have progressed to the last four without taking the field.
If rain again prevents the semi-final against India from taking place, India would advance to the final under the tournament’s seeding provisions.
The first semi-final between Pakistan and Bangladesh will be played on October 1, followed later that day by the highly anticipated India-Sri Lanka clash.
