India vs Pakistan cricket: Asian Games gold medal final – all to know

What the report says

India and Pakistan are set to meet in the men’s cricket final at the 2026 Asian Games, with the gold medal on the line. Al Jazeera reported that the match is scheduled for Saturday, October 3, at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan, and will be played in the Twenty20 format.

The final brings together two teams with strong recent form and a long-running rivalry. India, ranked No. 1 in the world in the article, are defending the title they won at Hangzhou 2023, while Pakistan are seeking their first Asian Games cricket gold after taking bronze at Guangzhou 2010. Al Jazeera noted that the teams have already had limited-game routes to the final because rain affected both of their quarterfinals, after which they advanced based on seeding.

In the semifinals, India beat Sri Lanka by a wide margin, while Pakistan defeated Bangladesh in a shortened contest. The article also pointed to recent head-to-head history, including India’s win over Pakistan in a February T20 World Cup meeting and Pakistan’s last T20I victory over India in 2022. That background adds to the significance of the final, which could also be shared if weather again prevents play.

More broadly, the match carries added attention because India’s women’s cricket team has also won Asian Games gold at the same event, raising the possibility of a cricket double for India. Al Jazeera said it would provide live coverage and build-up ahead of the contest.