No multiple India vs Pakistan matches in Asian Games 2026

India and Pakistan have been kept on opposite sides of the draw for the Asian Games 2026 cricket competitions, ruling out multiple meetings between the arch-rivals. The two teams can face each other only in the gold-medal match or bronze-medal play-off in both the men's and women's tournaments.Asian Games: Will India-Pakistan face each other in group-stage? (Image: PTI, AFP)India and Pakistan will not face each other multiple times at the Asian Games 2026. The tournament draw ensures that the arch-rivals can meet only in a medal match in both the men's and women's cricket competitions.According to a report by Cricbuzz, India and Pakistan have been placed on opposite sides of the draw for the Asian Games cricket tournament in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Unlike recent International Cricket Council tournaments, where the two sides have regularly been drawn together in the group stage, the Asian Games format keeps them apart until the business end of the competition.The two teams can therefore meet only in the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal play-off. There is also a possibility that they may not face each other at all if they fail to reach the same medal match.ASIAN GAMES MEN'S CRICKET SCHEDULEPakistan to play Quarter-final 1India to play Quarter-final 2Semi-finals:Winner of Quarter-final 1 vs Winner of Quarter-final 3Winner of Quarter-final 2 vs Winner of Quarter-final 4The Asian Games will be held from September 19 to October 4, while the cricket competition will run from September 17 to October 3. The women's tournament will be played first, with the men's competition following it. All matches will be played in the T20 format at the Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya.INDIA, PAKISTAN ON OPPOSITE SIDESIn the men's competition, 10 teams will take part, with India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka receiving direct entry into the quarter-finals. India have been placed in Quarter-final 2, while Pakistan will play Quarter-final 1. Both matches are scheduled for September 28, with the four seeded teams set to face opponents emerging from the group stage.The remaining six teams, including Afghanistan, will have to negotiate the group stage to reach the last eight. Nepal, Hong Kong, China, Japan, Malaysia and Oman are also part of the preliminary round.The semi-final draw further separates India and Pakistan.The winner of Quarter-final 1 will face the winner of Quarter-final 3, while the winner of Quarter-final 2 will take on the winner of Quarter-final 4. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1.That means India and Pakistan cannot meet in the semi-finals. If both teams win their respective quarter-finals and then make it through the semi-finals, they can meet only in the gold-medal match.If they lose in the semi-finals, they could face each other in the bronze-medal play-off. Both medal matches are scheduled for October 3.WOMEN'S DRAW SET TO KEEP RIVALS APARTThe same principle has been followed in the women's competition, meaning there will be no India-Pakistan clash in the early rounds there either.India are the top-seeded team in the women's tournament and will face Japan in their quarter-final. If they progress, they will play either Bangladesh or Hong Kong, China in the semi-finals.Pakistan, seeded fourth, will face Thailand in their quarter-final. A win would put them up against either Sri Lanka or Malaysia in the semi-finals.As a result, the only possible India-Pakistan meeting in the women's competition will come in the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal play-off.The women's final and bronze-medal match are scheduled for September 22.ASIAN GAMES WOMEN'S CRICKET SCHEDULEIndia vs Japan in Quarter-finalPakistan vs Thailand in Quarter-finalSemi-finals:Winner of India-Japan vs Winner of Bangladesh-Hong KongWinner of Pakistan-Thailand vs Winner of Sri Lanka-MalaysiaIndia have already announced their squads for the Asian Games, with Shreyas Iyer set to lead the men's team and Harmanpreet Kaur captaining the women's side.- EndsPublished By: Kingshuk KusariPublished On: Aug 13, 2026 11:46 IST