Asian Games Semi-finals: India to face Bangladesh, Pakistan to play Sri Lanka

In the Asian Games 2026, the women's teams of Pakistan and Thailand met in the quarterfinals. On September 17 (Thursday) at the Coreogi Sports Park stadium in Nishin, the Pakistani team defeated Thailand with a score of 3 points.

Due to the wet field, the game was extended to 11-11 overs. The Pakistani team needed to score 92 points to win, which they achieved in 10.4 overs, leaving 2 balls. Despite facing difficulties due to consecutive player losses, the Pakistani team managed to cross the finish line.

Now, in the semi-finals, Pakistan will play against the winner of the third quarterfinal, which will take place on September 18 between Sri Lanka and Malaysia.

In the attack for Pakistan, the most productive players were opening batsman Shawal Zulfiqar, who scored 25 points, including three fours and one six. Captain Fatima Sana made a significant contribution, earning 21 points from 13 balls with the help of three fours and one six. Gul Firoza (16 points) and Tuba Hasan (13 points) also played useful innings.

On the Thai side, Onnicha Kamchomphu scored the most points, taking three wickets. Additionally, Sunida Chaturongratthana secured two wickets, while Phannita Maiya and Suliporn Laomi each took one wicket.

Thailand, having lost the toss and starting first, scored 91 points, losing four wickets in 11 overs. Nannapat Koncharoenkai, batting and bowling, stood out with a performance of 49 points from 38 balls, including seven fours. Phannita Maiya added 15 points, and captain Narumpol Chaiwai contributed 10 points.

In response, Pakistani captain Fatima Sana took 2 wickets, and Nashra Sandu took one wicket.

Team Lineups

The Pakistan squad included: Shawal Zulfiqar, Gul Firoza (bowler), Aisha Jafar, Fatima Sana (captain), Eman Fatima, Alia Riaz, Tuba Hasan, Nashra Sandu, Umm e Haani, Tasmia Rubab, and Iman Nasir.

The Thailand squad consisted of: Nattakan Chamtham, Phannita Maiya, Nannapat Koncharoenkai (bowler), Nannapat Chaihan, Narumpol Chaiwai (captain), Afisara Suwanchonarati, Chanida Sutiruang, Suliporn Laomi, Sunida Chaturongratthana, Onnicha Kamchomphu, and Tipacha Puttawong.

The composition of the Women's Asia Cup 2026 final has been determined. The final match between the teams of India and Sri Lanka will take place on Sunday, September 13, at the International Cricket Stadium in Dubai. Prior to this, in the semi-final held on Friday, September 11, Sri Lanka defeated Pakistan by 4 wickets, thereby earning the right to participate in the title match.

Previously, both teams met in a final where Sri Lanka managed to beat India and win the Asia Cup title for the first time.

In the semi-final against Pakistan, Sri Lanka was set a target of 131 runs. The start of the game was extremely unsuccessful for Sri Lanka, which lost four batsmen, scoring only 33 runs in the first 6.2 overs. The situation was saved by Harshita Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari, who built an important partnership of 67 runs for the fifth wicket.

Harshita Samarawickrama contributed to the game by scoring 36 runs off 31 balls, including two fours. Kavisha Dilhari added another 33 runs off 33 balls, using four fours. However, Pakistan's captain, Fatima Sana, managed to dismiss Harshita Samarawickrama and Kavisha Dilhari in one over, once again putting Sri Lanka under pressure. At that time, the team's score was 109/6, and they needed to score 22 runs in the last three overs.

At the decisive moment, Nilashka Silva (not out, 18 runs) and Kaushani Nuthangana (not out, 10 runs) brought the team to the target, leaving 8 balls. Despite Fatima taking four wickets in bowling, her team failed to capitalize on this advantage, and Sri Lanka won the match despite the pressure.

Earlier, when Pakistan came out to bat after losing the toss, the situation was also difficult. In 10 overs, their score was 52/4. After this, captain Fatima Sana took charge, scoring 47 runs off 36 balls not out. During this innings, Fatima hit four fours and two sixes. Thanks to her performance, the Pakistani team managed to reach a score of 130 runs while losing five batsmen.

The clash between India and Sri Lanka in the final will recall the events of the 2024 title match. In that previous edition, Sri Lanka defeated India by 8 wickets, winning the Women's Asia Cup title for the first time. Nevertheless, the Indian team is currently in excellent form, having reached the final by winning four consecutive matches. India finished first in the group stage, winning all three matches, and defeated Bangladesh in the semi-final by 40 runs. Team Harmanpreet Kaur aims to win the eighth Women's Asia Cup title by defeating Sri Lanka. For her part, Sri Lanka intends to defend its title.

Despite the final score of the India versus Pakistan match in the Women's Asia Cup 2026, held on Saturday (September 5), being one-sided, the behavior of Pakistani captain Fatima Sana drew the most attention. Her manner of sending the player off after dismissing her raised many questions.

In the match played at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, the Indian team scored a modest total of 56 runs. While chasing these runs, Shafali Verma showed determination by hitting a six on the very first ball. However, she managed to score only 12 runs and was forced to leave the field in the second over. Fatima Sana's ball hit her on the edge of the bat and immediately went into the bowler's hands.

After Fatima Sana dismissed Shafali Verma, declaring her out via caught and bowled, she accompanied her with a 'cold' farewell, which suddenly heated up the atmosphere on the field. Fatima pointed to the fielding team to signal to Shafali that it was time for her to return to the bench. Fortunately, the Indian batter did not respond to this gesture, otherwise, the situation could have escalated.

Subsequently, Fatima Sana sent Pratik Rawal to the pavilion with a personal score of 4 runs. She then dismissed Smriti Mandhana via LBW, dealing the third blow to India. By taking three wickets in the powerplay, Fatima achieved a significant feat: she became the fourth player in the squad to twice take three wickets in the powerplay in Women's T20 International.

Although the Pakistani captain dealt early blows to India by dismissing Shafali Verma and others, these attempts were not enough to secure a victory for Pakistan. After the three dismissals brought the score to 29 runs, the Indian captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Dipti Sharma took charge. Both batters played cautiously, preventing Pakistan from gaining further chances.

Dipti hit a four through mid-wicket off Nashra Sandhu's ball in the seventh over. Following this, Harmanpreet hit a six in the ninth over, securing India's victory by 7 runs. Prior to this, Indian spinners had restricted Pakistan's innings to just 55 runs. Shri Charni, Prema Rawat, Shafali Verma, and Dipti Sharma prevented the Pakistani batters from playing freely. Pakistan's score when three wickets fell was 27 runs, but a series of dismissals followed. Besides Shawal Julfikar (14 runs) and Munib Ali (13 runs), no Pakistani batter managed to reach ten runs.