Archrivals India and Pakistan advanced to the Asian Games men's cricket final on Thursday after securing victories in their respective semifinal fixtures, setting the stage for a high-profile summit clash between the neighboring nations.

Pakistan clinched a six-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a rain-curtailed match reduced to 13 overs per side at the Korogi Sports Park in Nagoya, Japan.

India subsequently dismantled Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the second semifinal, a match in which four Sri Lankan batters were dismissed without scoring.

The final, scheduled for Saturday in Japan, is expected to draw substantial attention to the geopolitical friction between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

In light of strained diplomatic ties, players from India and Pakistan have consistently refrained from traditional pre- and post-match handshakes in recent encounters.

Heightened border tensions brought both nations close to military conflict last year, an environment that has directly impacted their sporting engagements.

During the recent Asia Cup, India's men's team defeated Pakistan three times, including the final, yet Suryakumar Yadav's squad chose not to shake hands with the Pakistani players in any of those matches.

Furthermore, the Indian team declined to accept the winner's trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi.

India's women's team maintained an identical stance during a match at their continental championship, subsequently declining to receive the women's Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi after securing the title in the United Arab Emirates.

In the second semifinal, Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 80 off 46 deliveries propelled India to a total of 169-7.

Fifteen-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi contributed 38 runs, striking six boundaries and two sixes.

After being put in to bat, India launched an aggressive start before Sooryavanshi fell shortly after the powerplay.

Although Sri Lanka managed to stem the run rate during the middle overs, Kishan accelerated toward the end of the innings, clearing the rope five times alongside four boundaries.

Fielding a second-string squad, Sri Lanka suffered a catastrophic early batting collapse.

Top-order batters Sineth Jayawardene, Lasith Croospulle, and Sohan de Livera were all dismissed without scoring.

Jasprit Bumrah claimed two wickets in his opening over, while Croospulle was run out.

Nuwanidu Fernando was the sole Sri Lankan batter to reach double digits, scoring 15, as the team was skittled for 45 runs in just 9.5 overs.

Bumrah concluded with figures of 2-7, while spinners Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Abhishek Sharma collectively shared five wickets.

In the earlier semifinal, Bangladesh's aspirations to secure Asian Games gold were shattered following a six-wicket defeat to Pakistan.

Sent in to bat first on a wet outfield, Bangladesh suffered a disastrous start, slumping to 21-3 as Tanzid Hasan fell for seven, captain Litton Das for two, and Parvez Hossain Emon for one.

Saif Hasan added 19 off 17 balls before departing. Towhid Hridoy kept Bangladesh in contention with an aggressive 42 off 25 deliveries, hitting four sixes and two boundaries, before falling to left-arm spinner Sufiyan Muqeem in the penultimate over.

Mosaddek Hossain contributed 11 off 16 balls, while Sheikh Mahedi Hasan remained unbeaten on eight off four deliveries. Aided by 19 extras—including 15 wides—Bangladesh posted 111-7 in their allotted 13 overs.

Sufiyan Muqeem emerged as Pakistan's standout bowler, taking 3-26 in three overs, while Arafat Minhas claimed two wickets.

Pakistan experienced early stumbles in their chase, as Mahedi Hasan removed Sahibzada Farhan for one with the score at six and Nasum Ahmed dismissed Sadaqat for 15, leaving Pakistan at 16-2.

Saim Ayub struck a quickfire 21 off 12 balls before falling to Mustafizur Rahman while Rishad Hossain dismissed Usman Khan for 14 off nine deliveries, reducing Pakistan to 53-4.

However, Hasan Nawaz and Abdul Samad steadied the innings with an unbroken fifth-wicket partnership, reaching 112-4 in 11.3 overs to seal victory with nine balls to spare.

Hasan Nawaz scored an unbeaten 27 off 22 balls with two fours and two sixes, while Abdul Samad smashed a rapid, unbeaten 30 off 15 balls, featuring five boundaries and a six. Mahedi Hasan, Nasum Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, and Rishad Hossain claimed one wicket apiece for Bangladesh.

While Pakistan advances to meet India in the gold medal match, Bangladesh will play Sri Lanka in the bronze medal playoff.