A major rule change for the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition means the final could end with two gold medallists if rain prevents the match from being completed. Unlike the previous edition, the higher-seeded team will not automatically receive the gold medal if the final is completely washed out. The gold-medal match is scheduled to take place on October 3 at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan.
Cricket at the Asian Games has been underway since September 23, with the tournament featuring several matches affected by weather. The rule was different at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. If the final was abandoned without a result, the higher-seeded team was awarded gold while the other finalist received silver. That regulation came into effect when India were awarded gold after the 2023 final against Afghanistan was abandoned.
Afghanistan had reached 112/5 in 18.2 overs before rain ended the contest, while India did not get an opportunity to bat. As a result, India received the gold medal, and Afghanistan had to settle for silver.
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For Asian Games 2026, the regulations have been changed specifically for the final. If the gold-medal match is washed out and no result is produced, both finalists will be awarded gold medals.
India, led by Shreyas Iyer, entered the tournament as the highest-seeded team. The defending champions advanced to the semi-finals after their quarter-final against Afghanistan was washed out on September 28. Pakistan also progressed to the last four after their quarter-final against Hong Kong, China was abandoned on the same day.
1st Quarter Final – Rain.
2nd Quarter Final – Rain.
3rd Quarter Final – Rain.
4th Quarter Final – Rain.ITS RAIN & ASIAN GAMES IN CRICKET 🤯❌
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladesh has qualified into the Semi Final. 🥇
If it rains in final, Gold Medal will be shared 🤝 pic.twitter.com/iCRYuzdKeH
— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) September 29, 2026
The rules state that a match must have both teams face at least five overs for a result to be possible. If fewer than five overs are completed by each side, the match is declared a no-result. In the final, that scenario would lead to both teams receiving gold medals under the 2026 regulations.
However, if the chasing side completes at least five overs, the Duckworth-Lewis-Stern (DLS) method can be used to determine the winner if rain interrupts play. In that situation, only one team would be crowned champion.
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The seeding system continues to apply in earlier rounds. Washed-out matches in those stages are decided using the ICC T20I rankings at the tournament entry cut-off, allowing the higher-seeded team to progress. Therefore, the new regulation is limited to the final. If rain completely washes out the October 3 gold-medal match in Nisshin, both finalists will share the gold, rather than the higher seed receiving the only gold medal.
