Pakistan advance to Asian Games semi-finals after Hong Kong quarter-final abandoned

Pakistan's Asian Games cricket quarter-final against Hong Kong was abandoned due to persistent rain which meant that the green shirts advanced to the semi-finals as a result of a higher seeding.

The match was abandoned without a ball being bowled in Nisshin.

Pakistan arrived in Japan after a four-day training camp in Karachi, where the players prepared on surfaces designed with the expected conditions in mind and also took part in scenario-based practice.

Speaking to the media before departure, captain Sahibzada Farhan said the team had prepared well for the tournament and was ready to adapt to the conditions.

“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.

“We have players with experience of international cricket, domestic cricket and the HBL PSL. As professional cricketers, we have to be mentally prepared for all conditions because the weather and playing conditions are not in our control.

“Every match is important for us. We will focus on our first match and take every game seriously.

“It is a proud moment for me and my family to captain Pakistan. Whether I am playing as captain or as a player, my mindset remains the same. I want to play the way T20 cricket demands and I expect the players to do the same, play for the team and win matches for Pakistan.”

The semi-finals of the Asian Games cricket event will be played on Thursday, 1 October, while the bronze and gold medal matches will take place on Saturday, 3 October.

Pakistan squad

Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim and Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)

Support staff

Mike Hesson (head coach), Ashley Noffke (bowling coach), Mansoor Amjad (fielding coach), Muhammad Tahir (physiotherapist), Imran Ullah (trainer), Usman Hashmi (analyst-cum-team operations coordinator)