NISSHIN: Pakistan men’s cricket team begin their Asian Games campaign on Monday when they take on Hong Kong in the quarter-final in Nisshin.
Led by Sahibzada Farhan, the Pakistan squad arrived in Japan after a four-day training camp in Karachi, where the players prepared on surfaces designed with the expected conditions in mind and also took part in scenario-based practice.
The squad trained in Nisshin on Sunday, but overnight rain and a wet outfield affected the session.
Speaking to the media before the departure, Farhan said the team had prepared well for the tournament and was ready to adapt to the conditions.
“We prepared wickets according to the conditions we expect in Japan and tried to practice against spin as much as possible. We also worked on different match scenarios during the camp,” the skipper said.
“We have players with experience of international cricket, domestic cricket and the Pakistan Super League.”
The semi-finals of the Asian Games cricket event will be played on Thursday while the bronze and gold medal matches will take place on Saturday.
INDIA ON ALERT
Meanwhile, Indian captain Shreyas Iyer ruled out any complacency ahead of their Asian Games quarter-final against Afghanistan, conceding last week’s scare against Japan had jolted the Twenty20 world champions out of any complacence.
In a rain-hit match at Sano, India edged Japan in a five-over shootout to lift the Suzuki Cup in the maiden one-off meeting between the men’s sides a jolt that underlined the danger of underestimating any opponent in alien conditions.
India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka are seeded directly into the last eight of the cricket contest at the Asian Games, while Nepal, Afghanistan, Malaysia and Hong Kong advanced from the preliminary groups.
With India’s women having successfully defended their Asian Games title, attention now turns to Iyer’s side to emulate them.
“Not just Afghanistan, no team can be taken lightly at any stage — just look at how tough Japan made it for us the other day,” Iyer said on Sunday.
“The pitches here cannot be set to a certain standard, so to adapt is key. It will be challenging for all the teams.”
Expectation remains sky-high for the sport’s most followed team, and Iyer acknowledged the scrutiny that comes with the jersey.
“Whenever you represent India, there are a lot of expectations, that you have to finish at the top. That is always there,” Iyer said of the “good pressure”.
“When there are expectations, you want to deliver. But I think we shouldn’t think of the outcome too much. We have set a standard as a team, and we must try to transcend that in every match.”
Preparation has been complicated by persistent rain at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, limiting India to only light work on Sunday, with the forecast uncertain for match day.
Published in Dawn, September 28th, 2026
