Pakistan to Face Bangladesh, India Meet Sri Lanka in Asian Games Cricket Semifinals
Sports Correspondent Imran Sohail
Rain washes out both quarter-finals as Bangladesh and Sri Lanka advance without playing
NAGOYA: Persistent rain once again disrupted cricket at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, forcing both men’s quarter-final matches to be abandoned without a single ball being bowled.
As a result, higher-ranked teams Sri Lanka and Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals, while Nepal and Malaysia were eliminated without getting an opportunity to compete.
Sri Lanka were scheduled to play Nepal, while Bangladesh were due to meet Malaysia at Korogi Sports Park on the outskirts of Nagoya. However, continued rain prevented the ground from becoming suitable for play for a second successive day.
The results have set up the semi-final line-up, with defending champions India taking on Sri Lanka, while Pakistan will face Bangladesh on Thursday.
The washouts were particularly disappointing for the tournament organisers, who had spent around a year converting a baseball field into a cricket venue for the Asian Games.
Games sports director Jarrad Shearer expressed his frustration over the lack of playing time but said the weather was beyond the organisers’ control.
With the semi-finals approaching, ground staff are expected to work extensively to remove the accumulated water and prepare the playing surface.
Organisers are hoping for better weather, with sunny conditions and temperatures forecast to reach around 32 degrees Celsius.
Shearer said staff would use equipment including water-removal machines, squeegees, brooms and sponges to dry areas of the ground that are not protected by covers.
Bangladesh, however, will have to cope with the absence of batter Najmul Hossain Shanto in their semi-final against Pakistan. He has been ruled out of the tournament after suffering from fever and an infection.
If weather conditions improve as expected, the Asian Games cricket competition is scheduled to resume with the two semi-finals on Thursday.
