India and Pakistan advanced to the semi-finals of the Asian Games cricket competition after both quarter-finals were abandoned without a ball bowled on Sunday.

India’s clash with Afghanistan and Pakistan’s meeting with Hong Kong were both washed out, with the higher-ranked teams progressing under tournament rules. Not a single ball could be bowled at either venue as persistent rain lashed the region.

The abandonments denied fans two eagerly awaited contests, particularly the prospect of another India-Pakistan encounter later in the tournament. Supporters who had travelled to the grounds were left disappointed.

Both sides will now prepare for their semi-final ties, with medals firmly in sight at the Aichi-Nagoya Games. Team managements said their players would stay sharp despite the enforced break.

Organisers defended the rules, which reward teams for their performances in the earlier rounds, but the washouts left players and supporters frustrated. Ground staff worked hard, but the weather simply gave them no chance.