India and Pakistan are among four teams that will bypass the preliminary rounds of the men's cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games, following the tournament draw announced Thursday. Main Developments The 10-team men's tournament, scheduled to begin September 24 in Nagoya, features a preliminary round with six sides—Afghanistan, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, and Oman—competing for the remaining quarterfinal berths. Group A consists of Afghanistan, Japan, and Nepal, while Group B includes Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Oman. The top two teams from each group will advance to the knockout stage, joining the four seeded nations: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. All matches in both the men's and women's competitions will be played in the Twenty20 format. Read also: Why Brian Lara Stadium's Test Debut Shifts Power in West Indies vs Pakistan Background The women's tournament, running from September 17–22, features eight teams and will begin directly at the quarterfinal stage. Defending champions India face hosts Japan, Bangladesh play China, Sri Lanka meet Malaysia, and Pakistan take on Thailand. India swept both cricket gold medals at the 2022 Asian Games, held in 2023 in Hangzhou, winning the men's and women's titles. Why It Matters The direct knockout berths for India and Pakistan ensure a potential high-stakes clash between the archrivals in the later stages, drawing significant global attention to the Nagoya Games. The T20 format also aligns with the sport's push for Olympic inclusion. What's Next The preliminary round will determine which two teams from Groups A and B secure the final quarterfinal spots. The knockout stage brackets will be finalized after those matches conclude.