How China’s Asian Games cricket campaign ended without a ball being bowled as Bangladesh advanced to the semi-finals

File Pic: China Women’s Cricket Team (Getty Images) China’s Asian Games cricket campaign ended in harrowing fashion on Thursday without the team even taking the field as their quarter-final against Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to a wet pitch in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.The T20 match at Korogi Sports Park was called off without the toss taking place after persistent rain and poor weather conditions made play impossible. With no possible result, Bangladesh progressed to the semi-finals by virtue of their higher international ranking, bringing an unexpected end to China’s third cricket appearance at the Asian Games since 2010.Bangladesh is ranked 10th in the ICC Women’s T20I rankings, while China is ranked 36th. Under the Asian Games cricket playing conditions, the higher seeded side advances if the quarter-finals are abandoned without a result. The same provision was used at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, where three of the four women’s quarter-finals involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh were eliminated.

Rain will end the Chinese campaign before it begins

For China, the result was particularly frustrating after they made it to the knockout stages of the eight-team women’s competition. The side had hoped to make an impact on the continental stage, but instead ended the campaign without facing a single delivery in the quarter-finals.Severe weather has affected the Korogi Sports Park grounds throughout the week and conditions worsened enough on Thursday to force the cancellation of the game altogether. The venue on the outskirts of Nagoya hosts all cricket matches at the Asian Games.Bangladesh, meanwhile, moved into the last four without batting or scrambling. Nigara Sultana’s side will now face the winner of Friday’s quarter-final between defending champions India and Japan in the semi-finals on September 20.Harmanpreet Kaur-led India will begin their title defense against Japan in Nishina on Friday. In the second quarter-final, Pakistan will face Thailand at the same venue.

Bangladesh team (Getty Images)

Bangladesh eyes another medal challenge

With only eight teams participating in the women’s cricket competition, Bangladesh are now just one win away from reaching the gold medal match. Both semi-finals are scheduled for September 20, with the gold medal game taking place on September 22.Bangladesh’s progress also highlights the importance of tournament rules in a weather-hit competition. Rather than using a reserve day for the quarter-finals, playing conditions allow the higher side to advance when the match is fully played.China’s exit means the Asian Games cricket campaign is now over. The Chinese men’s side was not included in the eight-team field, leaving the women’s team as the country’s sole representative in cricket at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.The Games have launched several sporting competitions ahead of the official opening ceremony, with cricket among the events that begin ahead of Saturday’s ceremony.The Asian Games cricket competition will conclude with the women’s final on September 22. On the same day, the Shreyas Iyer-led Indian men’s team is scheduled to play Japan in a T20I at the Sano International Cricket Ground, about 100 km from Tokyo. The match is part of the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic relations between India and Japan.