India v Pakistan for Asian Games T20 gold – what happens if there is a washout?

India and Pakistan will meet in the men's T20 gold medal match at the Asian Games in Nisshin on Saturday. The Indian team, the double T20 world champions, aim to defend their Asian Games title and follow the women's team's success. They defeated Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semi-final, while their quarter-final against Afghanistan was washed out. In the quarter-final, Pakistan edged out Bangladesh by six wickets in a match where the chasing side reached a modest total of 112.

India is the favored team to win the final, with a record of six consecutive wins against Pakistan in major competitions. Ishan Kishan scored 80 runs for India, and the team dismissed Sri Lanka for just 45 runs. The Pakistani team, too, had an easy path to the final, defeating Bangladesh by six wickets in their last-four tie.

India and Pakistan's recent meetings have been marred by political tensions, with Indian players refusing to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. This issue arose after India's women's team declined to accept the Asia Cup winners' trophy from Pakistan's chief Mohsin Naqvi, and the situation repeated itself with the women's team refusing to collect the silverware. However, ACC chief Naqvi did not attend the Asian Games, as he had prior commitments.

In the event of a washout during the gold medal match, India will retain the gold medal. Pakistan will also be awarded the gold medal as joint winners, unlike the Hangzhou Games, where India was awarded the title without a direct match due to a washed-out result. The bronze medal match will see Sri Lanka and Bangladesh face off.