Al Jazeera Sport will bring you all the build-up and live updates from 02:30 GMT.
asserted
Sport → bring → GMT
Cricket’s biggest rivalry will be renewed this weekend as India take on Pakistan in the Asian Games men’s cricket final, with the elusive gold medal at stake.
asserted
India → renew → stake
Recommended Stories
list of 3 items- list 1 of 3Taiwan’s gender-row boxer Lin Yu-ting wins Asian Games gold
- list 2 of 3Fury vs Joshua: Why was the fight delayed, and will it be worth the wait?
asserted
it → win → Joshua
- list 3 of 3France host Italy in Nations League 20 years after Zidane’s headbutt
Saturday’s blockbuster clash, played in the Twenty20 format, will be held at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
asserted
clash → host → Nisshin
India will defend their Hangzhou 2023 title, while Pakistan eye their first gold, having won bronze at Guangzhou 2010.
asserted
Pakistan → defend → Guangzhou
India’s Men in Blue can complete a cricket double in Aichi-Nagoya after the Indian women’s team clinched gold at the start of the Games, thrashing Sri Lanka in the final.
asserted
team → complete → final
Al Jazeera tells you everything to know about India vs Pakistan:
What happened the last time India played Pakistan?
India and Pakistan last met in a T20 World Cup group-stage match in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on February 15.
asserted
India → tell → February
India won that match by 61 runs, with Ishan Kishan’s 77 off 40 guiding them to victory.
asserted
77 → win → victory
When did Pakistan last beat India?
asserted
Pakistan → beat → India
The last time Pakistan defeated India in T20Is dates back to September 4, 2022.
asserted
Pakistan → defeat → September
Pakistan beat India by five wickets in that Asia Cup semifinal, as Mohammad Rizwan top-scored with 71.
asserted
Rizwan → beat → 71
How did India and Pakistan reach the Asian Games cricket final?
asserted
India → reach → final
As two of the four seeded teams, both India and Pakistan directly qualified for the quarterfinals at the Asian Games 2026.
asserted
India → seed → Games
India’s quarterfinal against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain, and World No 1 India proceeded to the semifinals due to their higher seeding, determined by the ICC T20I team rankings.
asserted
India → abandon → rankings
In the semis, India thrashed Sri Lanka by 124 runs, dismissing their opponents for 45 in 9.5 overs.
asserted
India → thrash → overs
As for Pakistan, their quarterfinal tie with Hong Kong, China was also washed out, and they advanced to the semifinals in the same fashion.
asserted
they → wash → fashion
World No 6 Pakistan clinched a six-wicket win over Bangladesh in their semifinal clash, which was reduced to 13 overs due to a wet outfield.
asserted
which → clinch → outfield
What happens if the India vs Pakistan final is washed out?
asserted
final → happen → Pakistan
Rain has disrupted much of the cricket competition in Aichi-Nagoya.
asserted
Rain → disrupt → Nagoya
If Saturday’s final is abandoned due to rain, India and Pakistan will share the gold medal.
asserted
India → abandon → medal
This is different from what happened at Hangzhou 2023 – India were awarded the gold due to higher ranking after their last edition’s final with Afghanistan was washed out.
asserted
final → happen → Afghanistan
India’s 15-year-old batting prodigy Sooryavanshi is undoubtedly one of the best players to watch out for across all sports at the ongoing games.
asserted
Sooryavanshi → watch → games
The big-hitting opener scored 38 runs in the semifinals, smashing six fours and two sixes.
asserted
opener → hit → fours
Middle-order batter Kishan’s unbeaten 80 off 46 balls was, however, the highlight of that match, with his incredible five sixes adding extra entertainment.
asserted
sixes → add → entertainment
Left-arm wrist-spin bowler Moqim was the pick of Pakistani bowlers in their semifinal victory, bagging three wickets by conceding 26 runs in three overs.
asserted
Moqim → bag → overs
Samad, on the other hand, dazzled with the bat, scoring a quickfire, unbeaten 30 off 15 balls, smashing five fours and a six.
asserted
Samad → dazzle → fours
India’s Asian Games cricket squad:
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Vipraj Nigam, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Yash Thakur, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi
Pakistan’s Asian Games cricket squad:
Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)
List of Asian Games cricket medallists:
Cricket is making its fourth appearance at the Asian Games.
asserted
Cricket → make → Games
The sport debuted at Guangzhou 2010 and returned at Incheon 2014 before being left out of the programme for Jakarta 2018.
asserted
sport → debut → Jakarta
- India: 71 medals (12 gold, 25 silver, 34 bronze)
- Pakistan: 6 medals (all bronze)
Where can I watch India vs Pakistan?
The Asian Games cricket final between India and Pakistan will be telecast or streamed live on the following platforms worldwide:
asserted
final → watch → platforms
The Aporia
