Sri Lanka will face Nepal in the third quarter-final of the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Competition 2026. The knockout match will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, with the winner advancing to the semi-finals and the loser exiting the medal race.
The official match schedule lists Sri Lanka against Nepal at Korogi Sports Park, with play beginning at 9:00 AM local time.
This is a straight knockout contest, so there is no room for a poor start or an inconsistent spell. The winner will qualify for the semi-finals and remain in contention for the Asian Games gold medal, while the defeated team will be eliminated from the tournament.
Sri Lanka entered the quarter-final stage directly because of its higher ICC ranking. Nepal, meanwhile, earned its place through the preliminary round and topped Group A after beating Afghanistan by five wickets and sharing points with Japan in a rain-affected match.
The contrasting routes into the last eight make this an especially interesting contest. Sri Lanka has the experience of a full-member international side, but Nepal arrives with match practice, confidence and the momentum of a significant win over Afghanistan.
Korogi Sports Park has produced competitive T20 cricket during the tournament. The surface should offer reasonable pace early in the innings, although the ball may grip slightly as the match progresses. Batters who play straight and rotate the strike are likely to benefit more than those who depend only on big shots.
The morning start could make seam bowling important during the first few overs. If there is cloud cover or moisture on the surface, Sri Lanka’s fast bowlers may receive some movement. Nepal’s spinners, particularly in the middle overs, could become influential if the pitch slows down.
SL vs NEP Match Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | Sri Lanka vs Nepal, 3rd Quarter-Final |
| League | Asian Games Men’s Cricket Competition |
| Season | 2026 |
| Format | Twenty20 |
| Date | Tuesday, September 29, 2026 |
| Local time | 9:00 AM Japan Standard Time |
| Pakistan time | 5:00 AM PKT |
| India time | 5:30 AM IST |
| Venue | Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin, Aichi, Japan |
A first-innings score of around
Asian Games 2026 Live Streaming Info
Asian Games 2026 Country-wise Live Streaming & TV Channels
- India TV: Sony Sports 1, Sony Sports 2, Sony Sports 3, Sony Sports 4, Sony Sports 5 Streaming: SonyLIV app/website
- Nepal TV: Kantipur TV HD, Action Sports Streaming: DishHome GO, Kantipur TV Digital, YuppTV
- Japan (Host) TV: TBS Television (free-to-air Asian Games)Streaming: Limited cricket-specific coverage
- USA & Canada TV / Streaming: Willow TV Alternative: Sling TV (with Willow add-on)
- Singapore TV / Streaming: MeWatch (free-to-air)
- South KoreaTV: KBS, MBC, SBS (free-to-air)
- Middle East (e.g., Qatar, UAE)
Live Streaming Info:
The SL vs NEP 3rd Quarter-Final will be live on Willow TV.
Live Score Info:
Sri Lanka vs Nepal 2026: ESPN and Cricbuzz have live scores.
150 may be competitive, but the final par score will depend heavily on weather conditions and the amount of rain around the match. Captains are likely to prefer chasing if the pitch remains consistent and the forecast creates uncertainty about interruptions.
Weather Update
Rain is the main concern in Nisshin. Forecast information indicates a high chance of rain and heavy cloud cover around September 29, with temperatures expected to remain close to 20–21°C during the day.
Another forecast suggested showers could affect the quarter-final schedule, although the exact timing and intensity may change closer to the start. Any interruption would make the toss extremely important. A shortened match would reduce the value of traditional batting depth and place greater emphasis on power-hitting, fielding and taking wickets in the powerplay.
If the match is reduced, both teams will need to adapt quickly. Nepal’s aggressive top order could benefit in a short chase, while Sri Lanka’s wider bowling options may become valuable in a reduced-overs contest.
Head-to-Head Record
Sri Lanka and Nepal have not completed an official men’s international match against each other. Their meeting at the 2024 T20 World Cup was abandoned without a ball being bowled because of rain, with both teams receiving one point.
| Head-to-head category | Record |
|---|---|
| Total completed matches | 0 |
| Sri Lanka wins | 0 |
| Nepal wins | 0 |
| No result/abandoned | 1 |
| Last five meetings | No completed meetings |
Therefore, there are no five completed results to list. This quarter-final will become the first full international match between the two sides and will create a new head-to-head record.
Sri Lanka Team Analysis
Sri Lanka has the stronger overall international background and was one of the four teams to receive a direct quarter-final qualification. Its squad combines experienced campaigners with young players capable of changing the match quickly.
The batting unit is likely to depend on Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Croospulle, Ashen Bandara and captain Sahan Arachchige. Dickwella can provide attacking intent at the top, while Bandara and Arachchige offer stability in the middle order. Chamika Karunaratne adds useful power and all-round balance.
Sri Lanka’s biggest strength is its bowling variety. Nuwan Thushara can trouble batters with his unusual action and yorkers, Binura Fernando provides left-arm pace, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth offers a specialist spin option. Dushan Hemantha and Arachchige can also contribute valuable overs.
The main concern is lack of tournament match practice. Sri Lanka has not played a match in this Asian Games campaign because it qualified directly for the quarter-finals. That gives the team fresher players but also means it has not yet adjusted to the conditions at Korogi Sports Park.
Sri Lanka’s key players include Niroshan Dickwella, Nuwan Thushara, Chamika Karunaratne, Ashen Bandara and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth.
Probable XI: Niroshan Dickwella, Lasith Croospulle, Ashen Bandara, Sineth Jayawardena, Sahan Arachchige, Chamika Karunaratne, Dushan Hemantha, Binura Fernando, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Nuwan Thushara, Garuka Sanketh
Nepal Team Analysis
Nepal enters the quarter-final with strong confidence after defeating Afghanistan by five wickets. Nepal bowled with discipline to restrict Afghanistan to 102/7 before completing the chase with 16 balls remaining.
Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel are expected to provide attacking starts, while Lokesh Bam and Sundeep Jora can accelerate the innings in the middle overs. Captain Dipendra Singh Airee remains Nepal’s most important all-round player. He can influence the match with both bat and ball and has extensive experience in pressure situations.
Rohit Paudel offers composure in the middle order, while Kushal Malla and Gulsan Jha provide left-handed power and useful bowling options. With Sandeep Lamichhane leading the spin attack, Nepal has a genuine wicket-taking threat in the middle overs. Sompal Kami and Karan KC are also capable of striking with the new ball and finishing an innings with the bat.
Nepal’s strength is its team balance and recent momentum. The side has already played in the conditions and knows how the surface behaves. Its weakness could be the pressure of facing a stronger full-member squad in a knockout match. Nepal cannot afford to lose early wickets because Sri Lanka has enough bowling variety to control the middle overs.
Nepal’s key players include Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel and Sompal Kami.
Probable XI: Aasif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Bhurtel, Sundeep Jora, Rohit Kumar Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Malla, Gulsan Jha, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Lalit Rajbanshi
Key Talking Points
The first major question is whether Sri Lanka’s superior experience can overcome Nepal’s stronger recent momentum. Sri Lanka has the deeper squad on paper, but Nepal has already adapted to the venue and tournament conditions.
The second battle will be between Nepal’s top order and Sri Lanka’s new-ball bowlers. If Thushara and Binura Fernando make early breakthroughs, Sri Lanka could control the match. If Aasif Sheikh and Kushal Bhurtel survive the opening spell, Nepal’s batting depth gives it a realistic chance of posting a challenging total.
The spin contest will also be important. Sandeep Lamichhane remains Nepal’s biggest middle-over threat, while Viyaskanth and Hemantha will look to restrict Nepal’s aggressive hitters.
Sri Lanka starts as the slight favourite because of its stronger international experience, wider bowling resources and greater overall squad depth. However, Nepal should not be underestimated after its impressive victory over Afghanistan and its familiarity with the playing conditions.
If the match is played for the full 20 overs, Sri Lanka’s bowling variety could make the difference. Rain or a shortened contest would improve Nepal’s chances because its top-order power and fearless approach could have a greater impact.