The excitement and thrill of cricket are set to take centre stage at the much-awaited Asian Games 2023 in Hangzhou, China, as India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams secure direct quarter-final berths. The upcoming edition promises to be a cricketing extravaganza, with matches awarded T20I status, elevating the competition to international recognition.
Indian teams get direct quarterfinal invite
The prestigious Asian Games will witness a stellar clash of cricketing giants, with the top four teams in the ICC T20I rankings as of June 1 — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh — assured of direct entry into the quarter-finals. The stakes are high, and the cricketing world eagerly awaits the battle of the best on the field.
The Women’s Cricket event, scheduled from September 19 to 26, will showcase the prowess of India’s cricketing queens. The high-flying Indian women’s team will take the field on September 22 for the quarter-final match. A nail-biting contest awaits as they aim to secure a spot in the semi-finals, scheduled for September 25. The adrenaline will reach its peak as the gold medal match and the bronze medal match are set to captivate fans on September 26.
However, there’s a catch for the dynamic captain, Harmanpreet Kaur. The cricketing star, leading the full-strength women’s team, can only grace the field if India manages to storm into the final. An unfortunate 2-match ban was handed to her following an outburst at umpires during an ODI in Bangladesh earlier in July. Nonetheless, Kaur’s leadership prowess and determination will continue to inspire her team from the sidelines.
Matches to be given international status
The action-packed Men’s Cricket event, scheduled from September 28 to October 7, will witness the fire and fury of India’s cricketing giants. Under the able leadership of Ruturaj Gaikwad, a second-string India men’s team will take the helm, as the first-choice players gear up for the highly-anticipated ODI World Cup, commencing on October 5. The clash of the Titans is sure to keep fans on the edge of their seats.
Should the Indian men’s cricket team qualify for the final, an arduous three-day challenge awaits them from October 5 to October 7. Back-to-back matches on these consecutive days will demand impeccable skill, stamina, and strategy to secure ultimate glory. The cricketing showdown at the Zhejiang University of Technology Cricket Field, Hangzhou, is sure to leave a lasting impact, as the matches will be given international status, catapulting the Asian Games into the cricketing spotlight.
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