Asian Games 2023, Men's Cricket: IND Vs AFG Final Called Off, India Win Men's Gold Medal - As It Happened

Hopefully, cricketers will also be there when the cream of continental sports gathers in four years' time in Nagoya, Japan for the 20th Asian Games. The country's women's team have already made their presence felt by winning the gold medal for the first time of asking. Now, the men's team, albeit a second-string team (blame it on the home Cricket World Cup) also clinches the Gold medal in the Asian Games Men's Cricket after the final match against Afghanistan was called off due to rain and being better-seeded resulted in favour of India, as India wins another Cricket Gold in the Asian Games, Hangzhou as the country made history at the Asiad — a century of medals — excuse the cricketing jargon! Afghanistan team were without their stars who are playing in Dharamsala for their World Cup opener against Bangladesh. Catch the highlights of the IND vs AFG, Asian Games 2023 Men's cricket final here (Scorecard | Streaming | Full Coverage)

That's all from our side!

2:32 pm: Match Called OFF!! INDIA WINS GOLD!!
Unfortunately, the game has been called off, and India has been awarded the gold medal. They would have preferred to win the game on the field, but you can't blame the elements. To be honest, they were the best squad throughout the competition, and they deserved to win. Afghanistan has its moments, and they'd believe they had a great chance to win tonight, especially with their spin pair looking so excellent. This is India's 27th gold medal in this competition, and cricket has contributed by capturing both gold medals. Bangladesh also won a double, taking home both bronze medals. Afghanistan and Sri Lanka both received silver medals. The Indian flag is out, and the players proudly display it throughout the stadium and in front of their loving fans.

2:08 pm: No positive update. It's still raining in Hangzhou. It's safe to say that Afghanistan won't come out to bat again.

1:40 pm: The covers are firmly in place as it's still raining.

1:30 pm: Rain Stops Play
Rain has stopped the play once again. It was drizzling from the 15th over but now it is increased, hence players have to go back to the pavilion. 

AFG - 112/5 (18.2)

1:20 pm: Afghanistan starts the power-hitting
As we move into the death overs, Afghanistan batters are powering the bowl for big runs. Sai Kishore gets hit for a hit by Gulbadin Naib on 3rd delivery and backs with the next. Arshdeep concedes 11 runs in the next over.

AFG -109/5 (18)

1:08 pm: Ravi Bishnoi finishes his spell 
Ravi Bishnoi bowls a magnificent over conceding only 3 runs. He finishes his spell with figures 4-0-12-1. We are into death overs now.

AFG - 89/5 (16)

1:02 pm: Afghanistan is playing attacking cricket
Afghanistan batters are playing attacking cricket now. They want to put up a big total and for that big shots are needed. Both batters are playing regular cricketing shots and taking risks in between to score quick runs. Indian bowlers are in search of wickets. Meanwhile, it seems Washington Sundar is injured in his thumb.

AFG - 86/5 (15)

12:57 pm: Sundar bowls a good over, except that wide
Gulabadin Naib is not taking any risk at the moment as he dots the first three bowls but smacked the 4th delivery for a boundary. Sundar keeps his length tight and bowls a very good over except for the last ball that goes for wide 5 runs. 10 runs off the over.

AFG - 80/5 (14)

12:48 pm: Shahidullah shows some shots
Shahidullah has taken the responsibility to score big now. He smacked a whopping six on the first ball of Shahbaz and fourth delivery for four runs. Afghanistan is shifting gears now.

AFG - 70/5 (13)

12:40 pm: Afghanistan shattering after a good partnership
Shahidullah Kamal and Afsar Zazai made a partnership after three early wickets but Bishnoi finished that by sending Zazai back to the pavilion. Karim Janat also gets bowled on Shahbaz Ahmed's bowling. The last match's hero, Captain Gulbadin Naib is on the crease with Kamal. Afghanistan needs some runs on the board.

AFG - 59/5 (12)

12:09pm: Run Out! (AFG 12/3 In 3.2 Overs)
And now there's a run out! It's all happening in Hangzhou. Noor Ali Zadran has to walk back after falling short of the crease. Noor Ali had hit it behind square on the leg side and called for two, but could not make it back by the time the throw came in from the deep. Afghanistan in trouble.  

12:04pm: Arshdeep Strikes! (AFG 9/2 In 2.5 Overs)
Arshdeep now scalps Mohammad Shahzad with a fierce delivery that follows the right-hander. There is some contact as the ball passes the bat through to the keeper, and Shahzad is given out caught behind, but he is unhappy with the decision. Shahzad indicates that the ball brushed his arm, and not the bat ot glove. Wicket neverthless for India. 

11:57am: Dube Strikes! (AFG 5/1 In 1.3 Overs)
Shivam Dube comes in from the other end and strikes with his third delivery. He exacts revenge from Akbari after the southpaw had hit him for a boundary. The very next ball rises on Akbari, who tries to clear mid-on but ends up mistiming it to Arshdeep who is stationed there. 

11:50am: Play Begins (AFG 0/0 In 0.3 Overs)
India left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh starts off proceedings with a length ball that kicks up and strikes Aghanistan southpaw opener Zubaid Akbari on the glove. Follows it up with two lovely outswingers just outside off. Delightful start for the pacer. 

11:47am: Line-ups
India XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, R Sai Kishore, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh
Afghanistan XI: Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Shahidullah, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib (c), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad, Zahir Khan

11:37am: Toss Update
India have won the toss and elected to bowl first.

11:35am: Match Update
The match will start at 11:50am, and the toss is about to happen soon. Stay tuned. 

11:21am: Weather Update
There was a bit of rain around the venue, which has delayed the toss a bit. But the good news is that the covers are off, and we shouldn't be far from action unfolding. We will keep you posted.

10:25am: BAN Pip PAK For Bronze!
In the Asian Games bronze medal match, Bangladesh have defeated Pakistan in a last-ball thriller to finish on the podium ahead of their sub-continental rivals. A disappointing campaign for Pakistan ends with a fourth-place finish. Catch the scores and key info here.

10:15am: Afghanistan @ODI WC
Elsewhere, in Dharamsala, the first-choice Afghanistan men's cricket team is taking on Bangladesh in its opening match of the 2023 ODI World Cup. Catch our live coverage of the match here.   

9:25am: Squads
India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Shahbaz Ahmed, Ravi Bishnoi, Ravisrinivasan Sai Kishore, Arshdeep Singh, Rahul Tripathi, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar, Prabhsimran Singh, Akash Deep
Afghanistan: Sediqullah Atal, Mohammad Shahzad (wk), Noor Ali Zadran, Shahidullah Kamal, Afsar Zazai, Karim Janat, Gulbadin Naib (c), Sharafuddin Ashraf, Qais Ahmad, Fareed Ahmad Malik, Zahir Khan, Sayed Shirzad, Nijat Masood, Zubaid Akbari, Wafiullah Tarakhil