Asian Games 2023: India gifted gold as rain finally exposes cricket for farce it is in Hangzhou
- India handed medal because of higher global ranking than opponents Afghanistan
- Afghanistan reach 112 for five in 18.2 overs before rain washes out rest of the day
Gifted an arm-chair ride by Asian Games organisers, India were awarded gold in the men’s cricket on Saturday, with the rain-hit T20 final against Afghanistan decided by the superpower’s better global ranking.
Afghanistan, ranked 10th in the ICC’s T20 rankings versus world number one India, were left with silver and powerless to do anything about it after rain halted the match when they were 112 for five after 18.2 overs of the first innings.
With India unable to bat a minimum required five overs -- or even start their innings -- play was abandoned soon after 5pm, leaving Ruturaj Gaikwad’s team to celebrate victory by default in the nation’s debut in the event.
“It feels very good, feels very proud. It’s something we’re not used to, winning a medal, obviously,” Gaikwad said.
“Pretty much disappointing, I would say,” he added of the rain. “Obviously we would love to have a full game .... But it’s the thing we cannot control.”
Deciding results by teams’ rankings is almost unheard of in cricket, let alone for major tournament finals. Most allow spare days for deciders in case of rain.
