Sports

Asian Games: Harmanpreet Can Only Play Final

As India get direct quarters entry, the earliest Harmanpreet can play is the final, as she is serving a two match ban

Harmanpreet Kaur.
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The Indian women's cricket team captain, Harmanpreet Kaur, can participate in the Asian Games only if her team reaches the final of the event commencing on September 23 in Hangzhou.

Harmanpreet was not at her best behavior in the recent series against Bangladesh. Her outbursts, which included hitting the stumps with her bat in disgust after a dismissal, led to a two match penalty. 

As India have a direct entry into the quarterfinals of the Asian Games, this means she will sit out the quarters and semis and play only if India reach the final. 

Both men's and women's events at the Asiad will feature four teams, namely India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, who will start directly from the last eight stage, based on the ICC T20I ranking on June 1. All matches will have official T20I status.

In all, the men's event will include 18 teams, while the women's will have 14.

The Ruturaj Gaikwad-led men's team has secured a direct entry into the quarter-finals based on their ICC T20 ranking on June 1. 

The women's competition will commence on September 19 and conclude with the gold and bronze medal matches on September 26. On the other hand, the men's event is scheduled to begin on September 28, and the final will take place on October 7, just two days after the men's ICC 50-over World Cup begins in Ahmedabad.

The Indian men's team may join the contingent a bit later since their campaign will likely start after the opening ceremony, considering there will be nearly two weeks before their first match. The specific accommodation arrangements for the cricket teams at the Games Village or a five-star facility in the city have not been confirmed yet by the BCCI.

Overall, the Hangzhou Games will feature a total of 32 cricket matches, with 14 games in the women's event and 18 in the men's event.