Daijiworld Media Network - Nagoya

Nagoya, Sep 28: The Indian men’s cricket team entered the Asian Games semi-finals without taking the field after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was abandoned due to inclement weather here on Monday.

The defending champions advanced to the last four on the basis of their higher ICC T20I ranking. India are ranked No. 1 in the format, while Afghanistan are currently placed 10th.

India will face the winner of the quarter-final between Nepal and Sri Lanka in the semi-final. If that match is also abandoned due to rain, Sri Lanka will advance to face India by virtue of their higher ICC ranking.

Nagoya has experienced consistent rain over the past few days, making even a curtailed match a remote possibility on Monday.

Under the competition rules, if the entire tournament is washed out due to rain, India could be awarded the gold medal based on their top ICC ranking.

The first quarter-final between Pakistan and Hong Kong was also washed out, with Pakistan advancing to the semi-finals on the basis of their higher ICC ranking.