India and Pakistan begin T20 medal hunt at Asian Games 2026

India and Pakistan are set to compete in the men's T20 competition at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi. This is a significant boost for viewership as South Asian cricket teams India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka secure direct entry into the quarter-final stage. Pakistan will face Hong Kong first at Korogi Sports Park in the morning, while India will play against Afghanistan in the second quarter-final. The other teams, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will face their last-eight matches the following day.

In a rain-interrupted match at the previous World T20, Japan came within two runs of beating India. However, Japan's spinners troubled India, restricting them to just 32 runs. Japan needed just eight runs in the final over but failed to score, thanks to a controversial decision by the umpires. This result serves as a warning to all teams competing at the Asian Games, with the pitch expected to favor bowlers.

India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh have picked their first-choice squads, but the reigning champions have the advantage of having survived a tense situation right before the knockout stage. If India and Pakistan advance, they might face each other in the medal round. Multi-nation tournaments are the only platform where India and Pakistan play cricket due to the lack of political relations.