Asian Games 2023: cricket sinks into farce as rain ends Hong Kong women’s hopes without them stepping on to field
- Cancellation of quarter-final against Bangladesh because of rain denies Hong Kong a chance to progress
- Higher-ranked teams advance amid poor weather, meaning India, Pakistan and Bangladesh reach semi-finals without completing matches
Hong Kong’s interest in the women’s cricket at the Asian Games came to a soggy conclusion on Friday, as rain again reduced the competition to a farce.
A day after India and Pakistan progressed to the semi-finals having bowled just two balls between them, a grand total of 25.5 overs was managed from the third and fourth quarter-finals.
Hong Kong had been scheduled to play Bangladesh in the second game at Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field, but persistent drizzle meant the covers never came off the wicket.
With organisers dictating that the team ranked highest advanced to the last four, the city side’s Asian Games was reduced to a loss, after starting the tournament with a loss against Malaysia and a largely meaningless encounter against a Mongolia team ill-suited to the occasion.
“Obviously the team’s disappointed we have ended the Asian Games this way, and it’s a pity because you want to test yourself against the best,” Hong Kong head coach Andy Cottam said.
“We planned and prepared well for this match, but there’s not much we can do. Unfortunately it is what it is.”