The Asian Games organisers gave India an easy ride to gold in men’s cricket, as the rain-soaked T20 final versus Afghanistan was decided by the superpower’s better global rating.
Afghanistan, rated 10th in the ICC’s T20 rankings, were left with silver and helpless to do anything about it as rain delayed the play when they were 112 for five after 18.2 overs of the first innings.
Play was called off just after 5 p.m. local time (09:00 GMT) due to India’s inability to bat a minimum of five overs, leaving Ruturaj Gaikwad’s squad to celebrate victory by default.
It is almost unheard of in cricket to make decisions based solely on a team’s global rankings, let alone for big tournament finals. Additionally, you can also read about- Indian Women Create History, Win Asian Games Cricket Gold Beating Sri Lanka
Most allow for extra days so that deciders can be played if rain cancels the first match.
If no spare days are available, a winner is usually determined using tie-breaking criteria based on a team’s performance in the tournament.
Twenty20 cricket has previously been played at the Asian Games, in Guangzhou in 2010 and Incheon in 2014, with men’s winners Bangladesh and then Sri Lanka.
Afghanistan finished second both times, but India did not compete.
The rankings system also aided India’s gold-medal-winning women’s team, which advanced to the semifinals after their quarterfinal against Malaysia was rained out. Last week, India defeated Sri Lanka by 19 runs to win the Women’s World Cup.
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Bangladesh Take Bronze
Rain also fell for the men’s bronze medal playoff, which Bangladesh won over Pakistan, but it held off long enough for the teams to compete.
The Bangladeshis had chased down 65 runs in five overs in a victory target adjusted using the Duckworth-Lewis technique, and a last-ball four from Rakibul Hasan secured the win.
The chase got off to a catastrophic start, with Pakistan’s Arshad Iqbal dismissing Bangladesh opener Zakir Hasan and skipper Saif Hassan for ducks in the first three deliveries.
However, Afif Hossain (20) stabilized the batting alongside number four Yasir Ali (34), who went on a slogging rampage to propel Bangladesh to victory.
Needing 20 runs in the final over, Yasir hit 16 of them in the first four balls, including two sixes, before being bowled by Sufiyan Muqeem.
Rakibal then hit Muqeem to the boundary on the final ball, sending Pakistan home empty-handed.
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