Top-seeded India face Afghanistan in the Asian Games quarter-final on Monday, September 28, with the match at risk of a total washout due to Typhoon Dujuan. The fixture at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, is under a severe weather alert with a 91% probability of rain and a 22% chance of thunderstorms.
Under Asian Games cricket protocols, the higher-seeded team progresses to the next round if a knockout match is abandoned without a result. This seeding rule puts India in a position to advance to the semi-finals by default if play is not possible. A total washout would mirror the 2023 final, where Afghanistan lost to India via the seeding rule without a single ball being bowled in the second innings.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has named a full-strength squad for the 2026 Games, moving away from the previous policy of sending secondary or ‘B’ squads to the continental event. Shreyas Iyer captains a side that includes Jasprit Bumrah and Sanju Samson. Analysis of the selection suggests the board is placing higher strategic value on the competition than in previous cycles.
Afghanistan enters the quarter-final after a preliminary round loss to Nepal, which affected their seeding. While they field an inexperienced squad compared to India, primary players such as Darwish Rasooli remain central to their campaign. There are currently no reserve days scheduled for the quarter-final stage of the tournament.
With the rain forecast remaining high, the focus at Korogi Sports Park remains on whether ground conditions will allow for any play to determine a result on the field before the seeding-based progression is invoked.
