Pakistan vs Bangladesh Asian Games Men’s T20I, 2026

FOUR! Hasan Nawaz finishes things off in style! PAKISTAN WIN BY 6 WICKETS! Rishad Hossain slips a loopy full toss, on middle. Nawaz does not miss out and thumps it ove the bowler's head for a boundary.

Floated, short and on leg, Hasan Nawaz keeps it out to the leg side.

Tossed up, full and on middle, turns away sharply. Hasan Nawaz backs away for the slog but misses.

Another short delivery, on middle, Hasan Nawaz heaves it to deep mid-wicket for one more. Pakistan are just one hit away from the win now.

Dragged back, on leg, Abdul Samad tries to hook it away but misses as the all goes off his thigh pad towards short fine. A leg bye taken.

Short again, on off, Hasan Nawaz forces it to long off for another run.

Flatter, short and on off, Abdul Samad stabs it out to extra cover for a run.

Flighted, full and on off, Hasan Nawaz taps it towards cover for a single.

FOUR! The boundaries are just flowing! Floated, full and on off, Hasan Nawaz goes down for the big slog but gets an outside edge that races to the third man fence for four runs. 100 up for Pakistan, and also a 50-run stand as well.

FOUR! Fourth boundary in a row! Mustafizur Rahman lands this short of a length, but down the leg side, takes pace off. Abdul Samad loses his bottom hand but manages to help it over short fine for yet another boundary. 23 runs off the over. Pakistan need just 13 runs in 18 balls now.

FOUR! This game has completely turned on its head now! Pace on, full and on middle and leg. Abdul Samad clears his front leg away and smacks it to the deep mid-wicket fence for four more runs.

FOUR! Much more in control! Just back of a length and around off. Abdul Samad lets the ball come to him, opens the bat face and uses the pace on the ball to steer it past short third for another boundary.

FOUR! Streaky but they all count! Hard length and on off, nips back in a bit. Abdul Samad stays back and gets late on his shot. It takes the inside edge and flies past the diving keeper to his left and races to the fence behind for a boundary.

SIX! That will release a lot of pressure! A slower one, full and around off. Abdul Samad picks it up early, waits for it and smokes it over the long on fence for a biggie.

Back of a length and around off, Hasan Nawaz steers it towards point and sets off for the run. The fielder scores a direct hit at the batter's end, but Samad has made his ground.

FOUR! Clever shot! Fuller delivery, on middle and leg. Abdul Samad gets inside the line of it, sits on one knee and scoops it to the fine leg fence for a boundary. 36 needed in 24 balls now!

Dug into the surface, on middle, takes off sharply off the deck. Hasan Nawaz gets surprised and takes his eyes off, but does well to keep his hands in front of his face and gloves it towards point for one.

Comes around the wicket, bangs this into the pitch, on leg. Abdul Samad pulls it but not with much control towards deep square leg for a run.

Short of a length and on leg, Hasan Nawaz hops up and clips it through backward square leg for a single.

Back of a length and on middle, Hasan Nawaz rides the bounce and blocks it out.

Hard length and around leg, Abdul Samad steps across to flick but misses as the ball goes off his pads towards square leg. A leg bye taken.

Shoriful Islam joins the attack.

SIX! That is a shot and a half! Nasum Ahmed gives this a bit more air, full and around off. Hasan Nawaz leans on it a bit and, with a high elbow, carves it over the deep extra cover fence for half a dozen more.

Slows it up, full and on middle, Hasan Nawaz blocks it out.

SIX! That will help Pakistan! Flighted, full and just outside off. Hasan Nawaz backs away to free his arms and muscles it over the long off fence for a biggie.

Dragged back, around off, Hasan Nawaz punches it to cover-point.

Short again, on off, Hasan Nawaz stabs it out to short cover.

Extra bounce again! Floated, short and on middle, shoots up off the deck. Abdul Samad backs away to push it away but gets a thin outside edge that deflects off Litton Das' gloves towards short third. A single taken.

Loops it up, full and around off, turns away. Hasan Nawaz has a poke at it but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Short and well outside off, Abdul Samad reaches out and punches it to sweeper cover for one.

Goes short, on middle, Abdul Samad pats it to the right of the bowler.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Abdul Samad blocks it out.

Flighted, full and on off, turns away, Abdul Samad tries to push it away but misses.

WIDE! Flatter, full but down the leg side, Abdul Samad fails to swipe it away. Wided.

A timely wicket for Bangladesh. Abdul Samad walks out to bat.

OUT! TAKEN! Rishad Hossain strikes now. He floats it up, shortish and around off, turns away with bounce. Usman Khan makes his mind early for the reverse sweep, changes his stance but fails to control the shot due to the extra bounce. It lobs up towards short third, where Nasum Ahmed leaps up and takes a good catch. Pakistan are 53/4, chasing 112 runs.

Quicker, shortish and on off, Hasan Nawaz keeps it out to the off side.

Slows it up, full and on off, Hasan Nawaz looks to play it from the crease but gets an inside edge onto his pads.

Arm ball, shortish and on middle, Usman Khan heaves it off the inner half of the bat towards deep square leg for one.

Floated, full and on off, Hasan Nawaz taps it towards cover for a quick run.

Short and on middle, Usman Khan pulls it to deep mid-wcket for a single.

SIX! Clean strike! Floated, full and on middle, Usman Khan skips down the track to get to the pitch of it and tonks it towards the long on fence as the wind takes it over the ropes for a biggie. 50 up for Pakistan.

Gives this one some more air, full and on off, Hasan Nawaz prods forward to block but gets beaten on the outside edge.

Quicker, shortish and on off, Hasan Nawaz opens the bat face and steers it to short third. Khan sets off for the run but is sent back.

Flatter, full and on off, Usman Khan drives it to long off for a single.

WIDE! Flighted, full and on off, turns away a bit too much. Usman Khan lets it go. Wided.

FOUR! Gets it away! Short and outside off. Usman Khan uses the width on offer and cuts it away to the deep point fence for a boundary.

Slows it up, full and on off, grips and turns away sharply. Usman Khan gets beaten all ends up.

Tossed up, full and around off, turns away, Usman Khan looks to push it away but gets beaten on the outside edge.

The next batter in is Usman Khan. Also, Rishad Hossain comes into the attack.

OUT! STRAIGHT TO THE FIELDER! Saim Ayub just stands in disbelief, as he cannot believe he has picked out the fielder here. This is pace off again from Mustafizur Rahman, dug into the surface, around off. Ayub tries to heave it across the line and connects well, but does not get enough elevation. It flies straight to deep mid-wicket, where Tanzid Hasan does not have to move an inch and takes a good catch. Ayub's handy cameo comes to an end. Pakistan are 38/3, still needing 74 runs in 54 balls.

Hard length and on off, Usman Khan stabs it out towards cover-point for a run.

Short of a length and on on middle, Saim Ayub pulls it away on the bounce to deep mid-wicket for a single.

FOUR! This is turning out to be a really expensive over! A slower one, full and around off. Saim Ayub extends his arms to reach out for it and lofts over extra covers for a boundary now.

SIX MORE! Same shot, same result! Pitched up, on middle and leg. Saim Ayub brings his wrists into play and slogs it over the deep mid-wicket fence for half a dozen more.

SIX! Pace comes on and goes out of the park! Mustafizur Rahman serves this full and on middle, angling into the pads. Saim Ayub just picks it off and whips it nonchalantly over the deep fine leg fence for a biggie.

Quicker, full and on middle, Saim Ayub looks to push it away but gets an inside edge towards mid-wicket for a run.

Dragged back, just outside off, Saim Ayub stabs it wide of cover. Rishad Hossain fails to read the spin and moves a bit too much to his left. He has to adjust to and does well to get a hand on it in the opposite direction to take the sting out of the ball. Two taken.

Make that four dots! Slows it up, full and on off, turns away a shy bit. Saim Ayub gets low for the big slog sweep but only connects with thin air.

Drops it short, on off, Saim Ayub backs away and punches it to cover-point. Three dots in a row!

Arm ball, full and on middle, angling in. Saim Ayub goes down for the sweep but misses and gets hit on the pads. A slight appeal for LBW, but turned down. Mahedi signals it is going down the leg side.

Tossed up, full and on middle, Saim Ayub blocks it out.

Short and on middle, Saim Ayub nudges it through mid-wicket for one.

Both openers are back in the hut now. Saim Ayub comes out to the middle.

OUT! CAUGHT! Nasum Ahmed has the last laugh here. He pushes this one through a bit quicker, shortish and on middle, shoots up a bit. Maaz Sadaqat once again gets low to play the slog sweep but the ball hits him high on the bat. It goes in the air towards deep square leg, where Towhid Hridoy takes a few steps forward and grabs it safely.

FOUR! Gets it away! Floated, full and on middle, Maaz Sadaqat goes down on one knee and nails the sweep behind square on the leg side for a boundary.

Flatter, shortish and on off, Maaz Sadaqat steps across to clip it away but misses and gets hit on the pads.

SIX! Goes all the way! Tossed up, full and on middle and off. Maaz Sadaqat gets under it and hits through the line, dispatching it over the bowler's head for a biggie.

Nasum Ahmed begins with a flighted delivery, full and on off. Maaz Sadaqat has a big slog across the line but misses.

Early blow for Pakistan. Usman Khan walks out to bat at number 3. Also, Nasum Ahmed will share the attack.

OUT! TAKEN! Mahedi Hasan strikes big in the first over. He gives this one some more air, full and around off, gets some drift and turn in. Sahibzada Farhan gets down on one knee for the slog sweep but gets a top edge. It flies high in the air wide of long off, where Towhid Hridoy settles under the swirling ball, keeps his eyes on the ball, loses his sunglasses from his pocket, but holds onto a fine catch. Pakistan are 6/1, chasing 112 runs.

Tossed up, full and around off, hits a crack and just shoots up. Sahibzada Farhan goes down for the sweep but misses. Litton Das tries to collect it behind the stumps but takes a blow on his chest.

Flatter, short and on off, gets some extra bounce. Sahibzada Farhan gets taken aback as he tries to punch it away. It lobs up in the air but does not carry to short cover.

Dragged back, on middle, Maaz Sadaqat backs away and swats it off the bottom half of the bat towards mid on for a run.

FOUR! Gets off the mark in style! Flighted, full and around middle. Maaz Sadaqat gets down and across and swipes it away without even looking at the ball, over backward square leg for the first boundary of the chase.

Pakistan are up and running in the chase! Mahedi Hasan starts with a floated delivery, short and on middle, turns in. Sahibzada Farhan stays back and pats it down to long on for a single.

OUT! RUN OUT! Bangladesh end their innings at 111/7! A sharp short ball rears into Rishad’s upper body. He swivels into a pull shot but connects with nothing. Behind the wickets, Usman gathers cleanly and throws it towards the bowler. Ahmed collects on the charge and shatters the stumps at the non-striker's end. Rishad Hossain was short.

Bangs it short, on off, Mahedi Hasan looks to paddle it but misses. The keeper fails to stop it as the batters collect a bye.

Fullish, on off, Rishad Hossain taps it to mid off for a single.

Down the leg side, Mahedi Hasan looks to flick it but the ball hits his pads and rolls towards point. They collect a leg bye.

FOUR! That's a well controlled shot! Full and outside off, Mahedi Hasan uses the pace of the ball and guides it through short third for a boundary.

Bangs it short, on leg, Rishad Hossain looks to pull it but gets a blow on his body. The ball rolls towards point for a leg bye.

FOUR! That's a good shot! Fullish, on off, Mahedi Hasan picks it well and drills it past long on for a boundary. 100 comes up for Bangladesh.

Mahedi Hasan walks in.

OUT! TAKEN! Sufyan Moqim gets another. Flighted up, on off, Mosaddek Hossain looks to loft it but gets a top edge. The ball goes high up in the air towards mid off. Sahibzada Farhan walks forward and completes the catch.

Too full, on off, Rishad Hossain knocks it to mid on for a single.

Rishad Hossain walks in to bat now.

OUT! TAKEN! A fine innings from Towhid comes to an end. Fullish, on leg, Towhid Hridoy looks to flick it but doesn't connect well. The ball carries towards deep mid-wicket. Saim Ayub moves to his left and takes a good catch near his chest.

Two wides! Way outside off, Mosaddek Hossain leaves. The keeper fails to stop it as the batters collect a single.

Short, on off, Towhid Hridoy knocks it to mid on for a single.

Wide! Another one down leg, Towhid Hridoy leaves. A 50-run partnership comes up between this duo now.

Three wides! Down the leg side, Towhid Hridoy looks to slog it but misses. The keeper fails to stop it as the batters collect two runs.

Top edge, safe! Flatter, on off, Mosaddek Hossain looks to play a reverse sweep but gets a top edge. The ball lobs and lands safely over cover. They cross.

SIX! Up, up and away! Flighted up, just outside off, Towhid Hridoy picks it well and hammers it over long off for a huge six.

FOUR! That is powerfully hit! Fullish, on leg, Towhid Hridoy gets down on one knee and slogs it over backward square leg for a boundary.

Wide! Down the leg side, Towhid Hridoy leaves it alone.

Dropped! Short and wide, Mosaddek Hossain slaps it to point. The fielder dives to his right but fails to hold onto the catch. The batters collect a single. It was a difficult one, though.

Drops it short, on off, Towhid Hridoy pulls it over mid-wicket for a single.

Short, on off, Towhid Hridoy leaves it alone.

Wide! Way outside off, Towhid Hridoy leaves it alone.

Flatter, on off, Towhid Hridoy taps it back to the bowler.

Slightly down the leg side, Towhid Hridoy looks to flick it but the ball hits his pads and rolls to the left of the keeper. An appeal for LBW but nothing from the umpire. The batters collect a leg bye.

SIX! What a shot from Hridoy! Fullish and on off, Towhid Hridoy makes room and powers it high and over long off for a maximum.

Wide! Back of a length, way outside off, Towhid Hridoy looks to slap it but misses. Wided.

Hits the deck hard, on off, Mosaddek Hossain punches it through covers for a single.

Shaping in, on off, Mosaddek Hossain guides it through backward point for a brace.

Back of a length, outside off, Mosaddek Hossain looks to loft it but misses.

Angling in, on leg, Towhid Hridoy tucks it through backward square leg for a single.

A bit short, on off, Mosaddek Hossain taps it to mid off.

Flatter, outside off, Mosaddek Hossain tries to play a reverse sweep but misses.

A bit short, on leg, Towhid Hridoy tucks it to short fine leg for a single.

SIX! All the way! Fullish, on middle and leg, Towhid Hridoy moves to his off side and slogs it over cow corner for a huge six.

FOUR! A much-needed boundary for Bangladesh! Fullish, outside off, Towhid Hridoy opens the face of his bat and guides it in the gap through backward point for a boundary.

So close! Quicker, just outside off, Towhid Hridoy tired to cut it but misses.

Fired in, on middle, Mosaddek Hossain blocks it back to the bowler.

Wide! Width, way too wide. Wided.

Down the leg side, Mosaddek Hossain helps it over short fine leg for a brace.

FOUR! 50 comes up for Bangladesh! Flighted up, outside off, Mosaddek Hossain shimmies down the ground and chips it over the bowler's head for a boundary.

This one stays low, on off, Mosaddek Hossain blocks it back to the bowler.

Beaten! Turning away, outside off, Mosaddek Hossain looks to block it but misses.

Flighted up, on leg, Towhid Hridoy flicks it through mid-wicket for a single.

Tossed up, around off, Mosaddek Hossain looks to get bat on ball but misses out.

Tossed up, around off, Mosaddek Hossain defends it.

Wrong'un around off, Mosaddek Hossain looks to get bat on ball but misses.

Mosaddek Hossain is in at 6.

OUT! LBW! Saif Hassan has been trapped in front of the stumps by Sufyan Moqim. Pushed through on middle and off, Saif Hassan rocks back and looks to work it around square leg but misses a straight one and gets hit in front of the stumps on his pads. An easy decision for he umpire.

Too full, around off, Towhid Hridoy cuts this through point for one run.

WIDE! Another googly, way too wide outside off. Wided.

Wrong'un, around off, Towhid Hridoy swings and misses.

Sufyan Moqim has been called into action now.

Tossed up, on the pads, Towhid Hridoy flicks this through mid on for a single.

Short and wide oTowhid Hridoy looks to cut it away but misses.

SIX! That's been cleared over the ropes yet again. Too full, on the pads, Towhid Hridoy stands deep inide the crease and slog sweeps this deep into the crowd towards the deep mid-wicket regionf for a six more.

Fired onto the pads, Saif Hassan tucks this to the silly mid on region for one run.

SIX! Thumped down the park. Full and on middle and leg, Saif Hassan gets in line with the ball, goes down on one knee and smashes this overthe long on fielder for a biggie.

Fuller on middle and leg, Towhid Hridoy smashes this to the right of the bowler. Abrar Ahmed gets a bit of his boot behind the ball and half-stops it. Single taken.

Way too full, on off, Saif Hassan drives this to mid off for another dot.

Too full, on the pads, Saad Masood tucks this to square leg.

Quicker and flatter on off, Saif Hassan defends it out.

Tossed up on off, Towhid Hridoy dabs this to the left of backward point for a single.

Flicker around off, Towhid Hridoy punches this to mid off for no run.

Fired around off, Towhid Hridoy looks to cut this square on off but misses.

FOUR! A boundary behind the stumps again. Full and on middle and leg, Saif Hassan gets inside the line of the ball and tickles it through the fine leg region for a boundary.

Tossed up, around off, Saif Hassan keeps it out.

Arafat gives it a lot more air and bowls it on off, taking it away from the batter. Saif Hassan moves away to his leg and looks to loft this inside out over cover but misses. Usman Khan gathers it behind the stumps and takes the bails off appealing for stumping. The replay shows that the batter was well in when the stumps were broken.

WIDE! Full and wide down the leg side. Wided.

Darted on the pads, Towhid Hridoy tucks this to square leg for a single.

Towhid Hridoy walks out next for Bangladesh.

OUT! CAUGHT IN THE DEEP! Fuller on middle and off, Parvez Hossain Emon drags it with a sweep and hits it in the lap of Mohammad Wasim at the deep square leg region. Second success already for Arafat Minhas.

Darted wide of off, Parvez Hossain Emon offers a dead bat at it but gets beaten.

Unplayable by Saim. Floated around off, turning away from the batter. Saif Hassan looks to prod in front and keep it out but misses.

Fuller around middle and off, Parvez Hossain Emon sweeps this to deep square leg for a single.

Floated into the batter, on leg, Parvez Hossain Emon punches this to extra cover.

Parvez Hossain Emon walks out at 4.

OUT! TIMBER! Saim has knocked Das over. Flicker, on leg, Litton Das brings out the reverse sweep yet again but misses. The ball goes past the batter and hits the leg-pole. Litton Das departs on 2 off 3 and Bangladesh are rocked early with the scoreboard reading 20 for 2.

Full and on leg, Saif Hassan looks for the sweep again but gets it edged onto his pads for a single.

The Bangladesh team physio is out in the middle to have a look at Saif for a mandatory concussion check. Saif seems fit to continue.

Leggie, around off, Saif Hassan steps across and goes for a sweep behind square on leg but misses and gets hit on his helmet.

Saim Ayub comes in as the first change bowler.

Fuller on middle and off, turning away from the right-hander. Litton Das brings out the reverse and gets it gloved behind the stumps to the third man region for a brace.

Quicker one, around off, Litton Das defends this off his back foot.

Litton Das is in at 3.

OUT! CAUGHT! The skipper of Pakistan takes a decent catch to send Tanzid back. Pushed through around off, Tanzid Hasan presses to the pitch of the ball and looks to smash it over covers. He mis-hits it as his bat tilts in his hands at the time of contact with the ball. Sahibzada Farhan moves well to his right from mid off and takes it on the second grab.

WIDE! Too full, wide down the leg side. Tanzid Hasan looks to flick it away but misses and Usman Khan gathers it and starts to appeal for caught behind. The umpire buys nothing of it and signals wide.

SIX! A biggie to both openers for now. Fuller on middle and leg, Tanzid Hasan goes down on the back knee and sweeps this in the air and clears the fence to the left of the deep square leg fielder with ease.

Floated on off, Tanzid Hasan blocks this off his back foot.

Tossed up, on the pads, Tanzid Hasan jumps down and looks to slog it away but misses and gets hit on the pads.

10 came off the first over. Arafat Minhas to bowl from the other end.

SIX! Here comes the first biggie of the contest. Short again, around off, Saif Hassan gets in line with the ball and has a go with the pull at it. Gets it top-edged with the ball clearing the fine leg fence for six runs.

Bouncer, wide of off, Saif Hassan shimmies down and away and ends up going too far to get bat on ball.

Ahmed bowls it on a length, around off, Saif Hassan gets behind the line and keeps it out.

WIDE! Good length, wide down the leg side. Wided.

On a length, arond off, Saif Hassan defends this off his front foot.

Back of a length, on the pads, Tanzid Hasan gets up on his toes and casually tucks this to square leg for a single.

WIDE! Good length, way too wide outside the off. Wided.

A single to get things underway. Pitched-up delivery, on middle and off, Saif Hassan pushes this to the right of the mid on fielder and takes a single to get off the mark.

The focus now shifts to the cricketing action at the Asian Games 2026. Tanzid Hasan and Saif Hassan have walked out in the middle to open for Bangladesh. Ahmed Daniyal will deliver the first ball for Pakistan.

We are all set for the pre-match formalities as the national anthems are about to be performed, beginning with Bangladesh followed by Pakistan.

Bangladesh (Playing XI) - Tanzid Hasan, Saif Hassan, Litton Das (C)(WK), Towhid Hridoy, Parvez Hossain Emon, Mosaddek Hossain, Mahedi Hasan, Rishad Hossain, Nasum Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Mustafizur Rahman.

Pakistan (Playing XI) - Sahibzada Farhan (C), Maaz Sadaqat, Usman Khan (WK), Saim Ayub, Hasan Nawaz, Abdul Samad, Arafat Minhas, Ahmed Daniyal, Mohammad Wasim, Abrar Ahmed, Sufyan Moqim.

TOSS - Pakistan have won it and they will be BOWLING first

UPDATE - 12.52 am GMT - Finally, we have some good news from Japan, as the toss is about to happen at 12.55 am GMT. The start time for he contest is 1.15 am GMT and it is going to be a 13-over per side contest. 

UPDATE - 1 am GMT - Still, no official verdict has been passed. The players can be seen warming up a bit but there doesn't look any urgency by the body language they are having. 

UPDATE - 12.02 am GMT - An inspection has been scheduled for 12:12 a.m. GMT. Fingers crossed, let's hope the game starts in a bit, as all the fans across the globe are keen to see these superstars in action. 

UPDATE - 11.44 pm GMT - Toss is delayed for now. It is completely understandable to feel eager for the match to begin, especially with such beautiful, bright sunshine lighting up the stadium. It can be quite puzzling to see a delay under clear skies, but these precautions are taken gently with the players' safety in mind, as a damp outfield can easily cause slips or injuries. The dedicated ground staff are surely doing everything they can with their equipment to dry out the grass as quickly as possible. For now, it is just a brief moment of patience while we wait for the official update and look forward to the game safely getting underway. 

Spin showdown on a tricky surface - With thirty-five wickets already falling to slower bowlers here, Korogi Sports Park promises another gripping, low-scoring thriller. Since neither side has had game time on this turf yet, reading the conditions quickly will decide who advances, so settle in and get ready for a cracking T20 contest as the toss approaches.

Fearless Pakistan chase the podium - Under new captain Sahibzada Farhan, a vibrant and fearless young Pakistan lineup is eager to break a sixteen-year Asian Games medal drought. Explosive top-order batter Saim Ayub and his teammates need to construct smart partnerships against the turning ball rather than swinging blindly, while mystery spinner Abrar Ahmed carries the burden of breaking stands through the middle overs.

Golden ambitions for Bangladesh - Litton Das leads a full strength Bangladesh lineup determined to repeat their 2010 triumph and capture Asian Games gold once again. Even with Najmul Hossain Shanto missing out due to illness, their experienced batting core must show patience on this sluggish track, while their deep spin attack looks to choke the scoring right from ball one.

Welcome to Nisshin for the medal race - A very warm welcome to cricket lovers around the globe as we come to you live from Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin for the massive first semifinal of the 2026 Asian Games between Bangladesh and Pakistan. The rain clouds have cleared up after washing out the quarterfinals, and both teams arrive fresh and hungry with a golden ticket to the grand final at stake.

... MATCHDAY ...

The business end - The men's cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games has moved to the semi-final stage, with four teams left standing in a journey that began with 10. All four quarter-final fixtures were washed out due to Nisshin being battered by rain, but the weather is expected to improve from Thursday onwards, when the semi-finals are scheduled to take place. The first semi-final clash sees Bangladesh go up against Pakistan, with India taking on Sri Lanka in the other. Having gotten a bye to the quarter-final, none of the four teams has got on the park yet but will need to hit the ground running. Another shot at gold - Bangladesh were the very first men's cricket champions at the Asian Games, winning gold at the inaugural edition in Guangzhou back in 2010. They have not been able to repeat that feat since, settling for bronze at both the 2014 Incheon Games and the 2023 Hangzhou Games, where they lost out in the semi-finals on both occasions before winning the third-place match. Das leads the way - Alongside India, Bangladesh are one of two sides among the semi-finalists to have fielded a full-strength squad. Litton Das will be at the helm, and he provides his side with experience both behind the stumps and with the bat. A major absentee will be Najmul Hossain Shanto, who has been ruled out of the Asian Games due to illness, denying him what was set to be his return to the T20I fold. Apart from Das, the onus with the bat will be on the likes of Tanzid Hasan, Yasir Ali and Towhid Hridoy, with Hridoy being Das' deputy. A spin-heavy attack - There is a plethora of spin-bowling all-rounders in Mahedi Hasan, Saif Hassan and Mosaddek Hossain, while specialist options include Nasum Ahmed and Rishad Hossain, who, given how the conditions have been at Korogi Sports Park, will have a major role to play. Mustafizur Rahman, Shoriful Islam, and Hasan Mahmud make up the pace attack, with Fizz and Shoriful providing the left-arm angle. A chance to end the wait - Pakistan's best finish at the Asian Games came in the first edition, where they took bronze in Guangzhou back in 2010. They have missed out on the podium at both editions since, finishing without a medal in 2014 and 2023, which makes this tournament a chance to end a 16-year wait for an Asian Games medal. A new-look batting unit - Unlike Bangladesh and India, Pakistan have gone in with a young and largely experimental squad, missing several first-choice names. Sahibzada Farhan leads the side instead, in what is his first assignment as captain in white-ball cricket, with Abdul Samad his deputy. Saim Ayub is the most recognisable name at the top of the order alongside Farhan, while Hasan Nawaz and Haider Ali add some power through the middle. Usman Khan takes the gloves and adds further depth to the batting lower down. The bowling test - With the ball, Abrar Ahmed is the one proven performer at the international level and will carry a heavy workload. The pace attack is largely untested at this level, with the likes of Akif Javed, Ahmed Daniyal, and Mohammad Wasim in their ranks. Ali Raza will be one to watch out for. The right-arm speedster earned high praise from Ian Bishop during the 2024 U19 World Cup for a match-winning spell against Australia, and is in line for his senior international debut. Sufyan Moqim and Saad Masood round out the spin attack as the other spin options alongside Abrar. Form (Last 5 completed T20Is, most recent first) - BAN - WWLLL | PAK - WLWLW. What to expect? 35 wickets have gone to spin and 19 to pace, which could mean teams will lean heavily on their spinners. 129 is the highest score while batting first in the men's competition, which is a stark contrast to the women's competition, which was high-scoring. With neither side having played here before, it will be about adapting to the conditions, and getting that right could go a long way towards winning the contest. Who are you backing to come out on top?