![India vs Pakistan to potentially play in semis [Source: AFP]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1787717571138_IndiavsPakistantopotentiallyplayinsemis.jpg?type=hq)
India vs Pakistan to potentially play in semis [Source: AFP]
Cricket will be a part of the upcoming Asian Games 2026, and on Wednesday, the schedule was announced for the marquee event. 10 Asian teams will take part in the competition, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, the four seeded teams, already in the quarter-finals.
Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal are placed in Group A, while Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, and Oman are in Group B, and the top two sides from the two groups will go through to the Quarter-finals of the Asian Games.
Similarly, in the Women’s Category, there are eight teams, with India placed alongside Japan, Bangladesh, and the People’s Republic of China.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule
Men's category
| Date | Match Type | Teams |
| September 24 | Qualifiers | Afghanistan Vs Japan Hong Kong, China Vs Malaysia |
| September 25 | Qualifiers | Hong Kong, China Vs Oman Afghanistan Vs Nepal |
| September 26 | Qualifiers | Japan Vs Nepal
Malaysia Vs Oman |
| September 28 | Quarter final 1 Quarter final 2 | Pakistan Vs (second place of Group B) India Vs (second place of Group A) |
| September 29 | Quarter final 3
Quarter final 4 | Sri Lanka Vs (Winner of Group A)
Bangladesh Vs (Winner of Group B) |
| October 1 | Semi final 1
Semi final 2 | TBD |
| October 3 | Bronze Medal Match
Final | TBD |
(Asian Games Men's schedule)
Women's Category
| Dates | Match Type | Teams |
| September 17 | Quarter final 1
Quarter final 2 | Bangladesh vs People's Republic of China Pakistan vs Thailand |
| September 18 | Quarter final 3 Quarter final 4 | Sri Lanka vs Malaysia India vs Japan |
| September 20 | Semi final 1
Semi final 2 | TBD |
| September 22 | Bronze Medal match Final |
TBD
|
India-Pakistan rivalry has become one sides in recent years
The India vs Pakistan rivalry in both the men’s and women’s divisions has become one-sided, with the Indian side dominating the proceedings. Pakistan’s men’s side last beat India in a T20 format in 2022, and before and after that, the side has struggled to get the better of its arch-rivals.
Interestingly, the two sides have collided 17 times in the game’s shortest format, and the Men in Blue have dominated the Men in Green, winning 14 games, with Pakistan tasting success only thrice.
Also Read: Why India Pakistan Will Be Playing No League Matches In Asian Games?
Pakistan’s two most recent wins have come in this decade (the 2021 T20 World Cup and the 2022 Asia Cup). Since then, the team is looking to beat India in this format, but they are yet to find a formula for it.
The same has been the case on the Women’s side, with the Indian team dominating the one-sided rivalry.
The two sides recently collided in the Women’s T20 World Cup, and the Indian players ran riot to win the contest with utmost ease.
India Women and Pakistan Women have met 16 times in T20Is, with India winning 13 matches and showcasing their brilliance.
India once again favourites to beat Pakistan in Asian Games 2026
India are once again the favourites to beat Pakistan in the Asian Games, as their Men’s and women’s teams are two notches above the Pakistan side. The BCCI named a full-strength Indian side for the Asian Games 2026, with Shreyas Iyer set to lead.
Tilak Varma will be his deputy, and rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi will open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. Experienced pacer Jasprit Bumrah has also been picked, as India has a better squad compared to their rivals, Pakistan.
On the Women’s side, Harmanpreet Kaur will lead the Indian squad, and Smriti Mandhana will be her deputy as India aims to clinch the title.
The likes of Shafali Verma and Richa Ghosh will strengthen the batting, and the team also has Deepti Sharma, who wreaked havoc against Pakistan in the T20 World Cup 2026.
Hence, the Indian contingent will be the favourites to win the Asian Games 2026, considering their squad depth and talent.
Also Read: Babar Azam's Return To Pakistan Confirmed
