Sri Lanka Faces Nepal in Asian Games 2026 Quarter-Final

Sri Lanka and Nepal Set for Asian Games 2026 Showdown

The men’s cricket tournament at the Asian Games 2026 is entering the knockout phase, with Sri Lanka taking on Nepal in the third quarter-final on Tuesday, September 29. The match will unfold at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, where the victor will advance to the semi-finals.

Team Overview

Sri Lanka enters the quarter-finals as a seeded team, while Nepal secured their spot by finishing atop Group A. The Sri Lankan squad boasts key players such as Nuwan Thushara and Niroshan Dickwella.

Nepal has acclimatized well to the Japanese conditions, having triumphed over Afghanistan and Japan in the group stage. Led by Dipendra Singh Airee, they aim to maintain their impressive form and reach the last four.

Viewing Information

Cricket enthusiasts in India and the surrounding regions can catch the live broadcast of the Sri Lanka vs. Nepal match on the Sony Sports Network, specifically on Sony Sports Ten 1, Sony Sports Ten 3, and Sony Sports Ten 4.

The match is scheduled to commence at 9:00 AM local time in Nisshin, equivalent to 5:30 AM IST on September 29. Fans can also stream the match live via the SonyLIV app and website.

For viewers in the USA and Canada, the match will be available on Willow TV, while TBS Television will cover the event in Japan.

Pitch and Weather Conditions

The pitch at Korogi Sports Park has displayed characteristics conducive to grip and turn throughout the Asian Games. While batters can score runs with astute shot selection, the pitch’s slower nature may complicate scoring as the ball ages.

Average first-innings score: 120 to 140 runs
Short boundaries encouraging aggressive batting
Teams may prefer to bat first to apply pressure on the opposition

Weather conditions in Nisshin on Tuesday morning are expected to be pleasant, with temperatures starting at around 18°C and rising to approximately 23°C later in the day. The likelihood of rain is minimal at 10%, which should help maintain uninterrupted play.

Humidity is projected to hover around 62%, with an easterly breeze of about 12 km/h potentially aiding swing bowlers early on.

Predicted Lineups

Sri Lanka’s Likely XI:

Niroshan Dickwella (wk)
Lasith Croospulle
Nuwanidu Fernando
Ashen Bandara
Sahan Arachchige (c)
Chamika Karunaratne
Dushan Hemantha
Wanuja Sahan
Tharindu Ratnayake
Binura Fernando
Nuwan Thushara

Nepal’s Likely XI:

Kushal Bhurtel
Aasif Sheikh (wk)
Rohit Paudel
Kushal Malla
Dipendra Singh Airee (c)
Sundeep Jora
Gulsan Jha
Sompal Kami
Karan KC
Sandeep Lamichhane
Lalit Rajbanshi

Key Player Matchups

Kushal Bhurtel vs Nuwan Thushara: Bhurtel will face Thushara’s pace and movement early on, as Sri Lanka seeks an early wicket while Nepal aims for a solid start.
Niroshan Dickwella vs Sandeep Lamichhane: Dickwella’s aggressive batting will challenge Lamichhane’s leg-spin, a crucial duel if the spinner is introduced during the powerplay or middle overs.
Dipendra Singh Airee vs Chamika Karunaratne: Airee’s power-hitting will be tested by Karunaratne’s variations in the death overs, as Sri Lanka looks to curb Nepal’s scoring in the final moments.

Reported by Sai Vaitla, a contributor at Cricketaddictor since September 2022.

Source Reference (cricketaddictor.com): SL vs NEP Playing 11 Today, Live Streaming, Pitch & Weather: Sri Lanka vs Nepal, Asian Games 2026, 3rd Quarter-Final