Pakistan are into the Asian Games semi-finals without bowling a ball. Rain washed out their quarter-final against Hong Kong at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on September 28, and Pakistan went through because they had the higher ICC ranking under the tournament rules.
There was no toss and no play. The match was called off because of persistent rain. The Pakistan Cricket Board recorded the match as abandoned without a ball being bowled. Pakistan will now face the winner of Bangladesh and Malaysia in the semi-final on October 1.
Hong Kong had reached the quarter-finals after coming through the preliminary stage. It lost to Malaysia in its opening Group B match before beating Oman by 41 runs. Malaysia and Hong Kong eventually advanced after the Malaysia-Oman match was washed out, with Oman eliminated.
Pakistan got a direct place in the quarter-finals as a seeded side, so the semi-final will be their first match at the Games. The squad had held a four-day training camp in Karachi before travelling to Japan, where the players trained in Nisshin.
Speaking before the team travelled, captain Sahibzada Farhan said Pakistan had prepared for the conditions expected in Japan.
“We prepared wickets according to the conditions we expect in Japan and tried to practice against spin as much as possible. We also worked on different match scenarios during the camp,” Farhan said, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Pakistan and Hong Kong have met several times in recent years, with Pakistan winning their three most recent completed matches.
At the 2018 Asia Cup, Pakistan beat Hong Kong by eight wickets. Hong Kong made 116 before Pakistan reached 120 for two in 23.4 overs. Usman Khan Shinwari took three wickets for Pakistan.
The teams met again at the 2022 Asia Cup. Pakistan scored 193 for two, with Mohammad Rizwan making 78 not out and Fakhar Zaman scoring 53. Hong Kong were dismissed for 38 in 10.4 overs, giving Pakistan a 155-run victory.
Their most recent completed meeting came at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. Pakistan won by 68 runs after scoring 160 and bowling Hong Kong out for 92 in 18.5 overs. Aamir Jamal scored 41 from 16 balls.
For Pakistan, the washout saves the players from a full knockout match and gives the squad additional preparation time. The downside is that they reach the semi-final without a match played at these Games. Farhan captains a squad with plenty of T20 and Pakistan Super League experience; Mike Hesson is head coach.
Hong Kong lost to Malaysia, then beat Oman by 41 runs, but never got to test that form against Pakistan.
Pakistan will play the winner of Bangladesh and Malaysia on October 1 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. The bronze-medal match and final are scheduled for October 3.
The quarter-final ends with no scorecard.
