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Wet weather at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin stopped the quarter-final before the toss, and Pakistan moved ahead on ranking.
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Pakistan vs Hong Kong Asian Games: Rain Sends Pakistan to Semi-Finals

Washout in Nisshin gives Pakistan a place in the men's cricket semi-final, which will be played on October 1

By News Desk

Pakistan vs Hong Kong – (Staff reporter/Web Desk) – The Pakistan vs Hong Kong Asian Games quarter-final ended without a single ball being bowled on Monday. Heavy rain in Nisshin, Japan, forced officials to abandon the match, and Pakistan moved into the semi-finals.

The game was scheduled at Korogi Sports Park. It was the first quarter-final of the men’s cricket event. Rain kept falling for hours, and the umpires could not even hold the toss.

Because no result was possible, the higher-ranked team went through. Pakistan have a better ICC T20I ranking than Hong Kong, China, so they take the semi-final spot.

Pakistan did not have to play in the group stage. They went straight into the knockout round along with India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. All four teams got this benefit because of their rankings.

Hong Kong had to earn their place. They finished second in Group B and booked a quarter-final spot. They collected two points from their group matches.

Malaysia topped the same group with three points. Hong Kong’s last group game, against Oman, was also abandoned without a ball bowled. Rain has clearly played a big part in this event.

Pakistan will be happy to move ahead, though they would have liked to play a match first. The team has not had a game in Japan yet, so match practice remains a concern.

Their preparation has also faced weather trouble. Pakistan’s training session in Nisshin on Sunday was affected by overnight rain and a wet outfield.

Before leaving for Japan, the squad spent four days at a training camp in Karachi. Players worked on the conditions they expect at the Asian Games. They also practised different match situations.

Sahibzada Farhan is leading the 15-member squad. The group includes several T20 international players, such as Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Haider Ali and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

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Mike Hesson is the head coach of the team. He will now plan for a knockout game where one bad day can end a medal chance.

The semi-final will be played on October 1. The bronze-medal match and the final are both set for October 3.

Fans back home will be watching closely. Pakistan now need to win just two more matches to take the gold medal.

Weather may stay in the news for the next few days. Organisers and teams will hope for clear skies, because another washout could again decide a result by ranking instead of by play on the field.

For now, Pakistan are through and the target is clear. The team has a fresh chance to show its skill in a big multi-sport event.

The Pakistan vs Hong Kong Asian Games result was not the way anyone wanted to see a quarter-final end. Still, the outcome is simple: Pakistan are in the last four, and the real cricket starts on October 1.

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