Cricket to Feature in 2026 Asian Games in Japan

Cricket is officially slated to be included in the 20th Asian Games, which will be hosted in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026.

This confirmation follows multiple discussions between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC).

In a formal declaration, the OCA stated that the OCA Board’s approval is still needed, although they anticipate it will be a mere formality. A Japan Cricket Association (JCA) official noted that until the approval is secured, it is not completely certain.

The meetings are scheduled from Wednesday, April 30, to Friday, May 2, with the 3rd OCA Coordination Committee Meeting spanning two days, May 1–2.

As with previous tournaments, cricket matches will be conducted in the T20 format. The final roster of participating teams is anticipated to be determined during subsequent meetings later in the week.

During the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the cricket tournament featured 14 men’s teams and nine women’s teams. India secured gold medals in both the men’s and women’s competitions and will participate in the 2026 Games as defending champions.

One significant consideration is the selection of a suitable venue. Organizers are considering the possibility of utilizing a modular stadium, similar to the one employed by the ICC during the recent T20 World Cup in New York.

A JCA official verified that the cricket venue would be located in Aichi Prefecture, although the precise location is still to be determined.

The OCA’s statement mentioned that the cricket venue will be in Aichi Prefecture, but the specific location is yet to be finalized. Interest is expected to be substantial, owing to cricket’s widespread popularity in South Asia and the inclusion of the T20 format in the Los Angeles Olympic Games in 2028.

This forthcoming event will mark cricket’s inaugural appearance in the Olympics since 1900 in Paris, where Great Britain triumphed over France by 158 runs in the final of the two-team tournament.

The 2026 Asian Games will encompass 41 sports and is projected to draw approximately 15,000 athletes and officials from the OCA’s 45 member National Olympic Committees.

In the previous edition in Hangzhou, the Pakistani men’s cricket team experienced a lackluster performance.

Pakistan entered the tournament in the quarterfinal stage but was ousted by Afghanistan in a rain-affected match that concluded without a definitive outcome. Afghanistan advanced to the semifinals due to a superior group-stage seeding.

With the senior national team preparing for the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 in India, Pakistan sent a second-string team to Hangzhou, captained by Qasim Akram and featuring emerging talents such as Arafat Minhas and Khushdil Shah.