Why China were knocked out of Asian Games cricket even before a ball was bowled

Two days before the official opening of the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, the Chinese women’s cricket team faced an agonising exit without even taking the field.

The opening quarter-final fixture of the women’s T20I cricket event between China and Bangladesh was abandoned without a ball being bowled due to inclement weather around the Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin.

Heavy weather had plagued Korogi Sports Park on the outskirts of Nagoya all week, culminating in a total cancellation of play on Thursday morning, proving costly for the Chinese side, making their third Asiad appearance since 2010.

Nigar Sultana’s Bangladesh, therefore, advanced to the semi-final stage over China despite an abandoned game. According to the Asian Games cricket Playing Conditions, rule 16.10.2 (b) states that the higher-ranked side will advance in the event of a washout.

The rule also came into effect in the 2023 edition, with three of the four quarter-finals involving India, Pakistan and Bangladesh being washed out.

Pakistan are scheduled to play Thailand at the same venue in Thursday’s second quarter-final fixture.