Asian Games 2026 cricket draws announced as Pakistan earns direct knockout berth

The draw and group allocations for the men's and women's cricket events at the 2026 Asian Games have been confirmed, with Pakistan among the teams receiving automatic qualification for the men's knockout stage based on the latest .

Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have secured direct places in the men's quarter-finals, while the remaining teams will compete in the preliminary round for the other four knockout spots.

In the opening stage, Group A features Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal, while Group B includes Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman. The top two teams from each group will progress to the knockout phase.

The men's T20 competition is scheduled to take place in Nagoya, Japan, from September 24 to October 1.

In the women's tournament, which begins on September 17, Pakistan will face Thailand in the quarter-finals. Other last-eight fixtures will see India take on Japan, Bangladesh meet China, and Sri Lanka play Malaysia.

The women's cricket event will conclude on September 22.

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