Will Pakistan and India face each other at Asian Games 2026?

Pakistan and India will begin their men’s cricket campaigns at the 2026 Asian Games from the quarterfinal stage after receiving direct entry into the knockout round.

Both teams have received direct entry into the quarterfinals based on their ICC Men’s T20I rankings. Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are the other two teams to receive the same advantage.

Pakistan’s quarterfinal opponent will be the runner-up from Group B, which features Malaysia, Oman and Hong Kong, China. India will meet the second-placed team from Group A, comprising Afghanistan, Nepal and hosts Japan.

The two rivals cannot meet in the semifinals because of their positions in the draw. A semifinal meeting would therefore be ruled out even if both teams reach the last four.

Their first possible meeting would come in the gold-medal match if both win their respective semifinal, or in the bronze-medal match if both lose.

The tournament could also see the first men’s cricket match between India and Pakistan at the Asian Games.

India are the defending champions after winning gold at the 2022 edition. Their final against Afghanistan was abandoned because of rain, with India taking the title on the basis of their higher ranking.

Pakistan were beaten by Afghanistan in the semifinal and then lost to Bangladesh in the bronze-medal match.

The 2026 cricket competition is scheduled to begin on September 28 in Nisshin, with both India and Pakistan entering the tournament at the quarterfinal stage.