Bangladesh could reach Asian Games semifinals without playing

Bangladesh will begin their women’s cricket campaign at the Asian Games with a match against China. Nigar Sultana Joty’s side will face China directly in the quarterfinals on Thursday (September 17). A win would secure Bangladesh’s place in the semifinals. However, even if rain prevents the match from taking place, the Bangladesh team could still advance to the last four.

Nagoya, Japan, has experienced persistent rain over the past few days. Rain is common in various parts of the country throughout September, and it has also affected Bangladesh’s preparations. The players were unable to complete a full training session on Wednesday because of the weather. After a fitness session, they had to wrap up the day with a limited practice session on a football field.

Rain is also forecast in Nagoya on Thursday, raising uncertainty over whether the Bangladesh-China match will start as scheduled. The umpires, however, will make every effort to stage the game. If the match cannot be completed within the allotted time, they will attempt to determine the result through a Super Over.

If the Super Over also fails to produce a result, the rankings will come into play in Bangladesh’s favour. Bangladesh are currently ranked 10th in the women’s T20 rankings, while China are 37th. Therefore, if the match is abandoned, Bangladesh will advance to the semifinals by virtue of their higher ranking.

In other words, Bangladesh have two routes to the semifinals against China: winning on the field or benefiting from their higher ranking if rain forces the match to be abandoned. Even if they reach the last four, however, the road to the final will not be easy. Defending champions India could potentially be Bangladesh’s semifinal opponents.

Meanwhile, the Bangladesh team are preparing to take the field with the goal of winning a medal at the Asian Games. After their final training session, batter Sobhana Mostary asked supporters to pray for the team. In a video message released by the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), she also sought continued support from fans.

Bangladesh’s important Asian Games campaign will therefore begin with the match against China. Whether the game is decided on the field or by the weather, the door to the semifinals remains open for Bangladesh.