Former Indian cricketer turned commentator Aakash Chopra said that the Asian Games is perhaps not ready to host cricket after a series of washouts in the 2026 men’s tournament dominated the proceedings. India qualified for the semi-final after their quarter-final clash against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain on Monday, September 28. To make matters worse, due to rain and a wet outfield in Nisshin, all four quarter-finals were washed out, as India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, and
Bangladesh all made it to the final four without playing a single delivery as well. India will face Sri Lanka on Thursday, October 1, for a spot in the gold medal match.
“Asian Games, I personally feel, is not ready. Asian Games is not at all ready for cricket. Especially when the matches are held in China, Japan, or other non-cricketing nations. It is not good at all. We saw that one match in Sano, which was just a 5-over-per-side game. I mean, it was not right. The pitch was not prepared well enough for international cricket. Now the matches in Nisshin, where there is a better hybrid pitch and all of that, even if there is a little bit of rain, they can’t dry it, and the match does not happen. There is no provision for drying at all. There are no super soppers or covers in place,” Aakash Chopra said on his YouTube channel.
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“If this is how it is going to be, then let’s be very honest. What is the point yaar? We are closer to a medal, why? Because our ranking is better. If the next match is also washed out, we will qualify for the final because our ranking is better. If the final is washed out, our ranking is better, so we will get the gold. What is this? It cannot be like this. It is a very poor way of conducting the Asian Games,” he further added.
The previous edition of the Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou also came under the spotlight because of the poor pitches, facilities, and inclement weather as well. The final match between India and Afghanistan was washed out due to rain, and the Ruturaj Gaikwad-led side won the gold medal as the higher-ranked team as well.
