When will India play Pakistan at Asian Games 2026? All Scenarios Explained

The India-Pakistan rivalry will have to wait at the 2026 Asian Games, with the two cricketing giants placed on opposite sides of the men’s and women’s draws in Aichi-Nagoya.

Unlike several recent multi-team competitions where the neighbours have met in the group stage or early knockout rounds, the Asian Games draw has ensured that an India-Pakistan meeting can happen only at the very end of the competition.

In the men’s T20 event, India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have received direct entry into the quarter-finals as the top seeds. The other six teams – Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman – will contest the preliminary round for the remaining four quarter-final places.

India’s men’s quarter-final is scheduled for September 28 against the runners-up from Group B, which comprises Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman. Pakistan will also play their quarter-final on September 28, against the runners-up from Group A, featuring Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal.

When can India meet Pakistan in Asian Games 2026?

The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1. Under the published bracket, the winner of India’s quarter-final will face the winner of the Sri Lanka quarter-final, while Pakistan’s quarter-final winner will meet the winner of Bangladesh’s quarter-final. That means India and Pakistan cannot meet in the semi-finals.

IND vs PAK to be a Medal Match

If both sides negotiate their respective quarter-finals and semi-finals successfully, they will finally meet in the gold-medal match on October 3. If either team loses in the semi-finals but both subsequently qualify for the third-place contest, an India-Pakistan clash could instead take place in the bronze-medal play-off, also on October 3.

The same possibility exists in the women’s competition. India, the defending champions, face hosts Japan in the quarter-finals on September 17, while Pakistan take on Thailand on September 18. India’s potential semi-final opponent would come from Bangladesh vs China, while Pakistan’s route would go through the Sri Lanka vs Malaysia side of the draw.

Consequently, an India-Pakistan women’s clash is also possible only in the gold-medal match or the bronze-medal play-off on September 22.

Both competitions will be played in the T20 format at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture. India enter the Games as defending champions in both men’s and women’s cricket after winning gold at Hangzhou 2022, held in 2023.