Cricket at Asian Games 2026 Faces Challenges

The upcoming Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, are raising concerns about cricket facilities as the event approaches. With only 15 days left until the multi-sport tournament begins, issues like travel, accommodation, player facilities, and logistics are becoming major worries.

Cricket is not a popular sport in countries like Japan and China, which means their infrastructure for the game is lacking compared to other Asian nations where cricket is more prominent. This is the fourth time cricket will be part of the Asian Games, having been included in 2010, 2014, and 2023.

The venue for the cricket events, Korogi Sports Park, was a basketball facility that has been renovated. It hosted six T20 matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup qualifiers earlier this year, serving as a test run. However, former Indian cricketer Akash Chopra believes the facilities are not adequate to host such an event.

Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji explained that they had only 17 months to prepare the venue from scratch. Unlike previous Asian Games, there is no dedicated athletes’ village. Instead, organizers are using cabins on a cruise ship and temporary rooms in containers for housing.

Chopra argues that these accommodations fall short of what athletes expect. He pointed out that cricketers typically receive private rooms when playing internationally, which they are accustomed to. The lack of proper facilities adds to the challenges of hosting cricket at the Asian Games.

Cricket events will begin on September 24, with men’s matches running from September 24 to October 3 and women’s matches starting on September 17 and ending on September 22. All games will take place at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin.