Asian Games 2026: India, Pakistan can meet only in medal matches

The 2026 Asian Games cricket draw has kept arch-rivals India and Pakistan apart in the early knockout stages in Nagoya, leaving a potential meeting only in a medal match.

The two sides are on opposite halves of the knockout bracket in both the men’s and women’s events, meaning a clash is possible only in the gold medal match or bronze medal play-off.

The Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4, while the cricket competition will be held from September 17 to October 3. The women’s event will be played first and conclude on September 22, followed by the men’s competition.

Ten teams will compete in the men’s event and eight in the women’s.

Unlike ICC competitions, where India and Pakistan are often placed in the same group, the Asian Games draw has kept the two teams apart in the early stages. Their respective knockout paths mean they cannot meet in either the quarterfinals or semifinals.

What is the India-Pakistan men’s cricket draw?

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have received direct entry into the men’s quarterfinals, while the other six teams, including Afghanistan, will compete in the group stage.

India are placed in Quarterfinal 2, while Pakistan will feature in Quarterfinal 1. Both quarterfinals are scheduled for September 28, with their opponents to be determined by the group-stage results.

If India advance, they will face the winner of Quarterfinal 3 in the semifinal. Pakistan, meanwhile, will take on the winner of Quarterfinal 4 if they progress. The semifinals will be played on October 1.

This leaves only two possible scenarios for an India-Pakistan meeting. If both teams win their semifinals, they will meet in the Gold Medal match. If both lose, they will face each other in the Bronze Medal play-off, with both matches scheduled for October 3.

The remaining group-stage teams are Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia and Oman.

Can India and Pakistan meet in the women’s competition?

The women’s draw follows the same pattern, with India and Pakistan placed on opposite sides of the knockout bracket. India are the top-seeded side and will face Japan in the quarterfinals, while fourth-seeded Pakistan will take on Thailand.

If India advance, they will meet either Bangladesh or Hong Kong, China in the semifinals. Pakistan, if they progress, will face either Sri Lanka or Malaysia.

That means the two sides cannot meet in the women’s quarterfinals or semifinals either. Their only possible meeting would come in the Gold Medal final if both win their semifinals, or the Bronze Medal play-off if both lose.

Both women’s medal matches are scheduled for September 22, when the women’s cricket competition concludes.