Cricket Set for Inclusion in 2026 Asian Games, Formal Confirmation Expected Soon

Cricket is set to continue at the Asian Games, with the Olympic Council of Asia confirming the sport's inclusion once again. Even though the Games started way back in 1951, cricket only became part of it in 2010. Now, it’ll feature in back-to-back editions for the second time, showing how much the sport has grown across Asia.

Cricket made a return to the Asian Games in 2014, was left out in 2018, and then came back again in 2022. With the sport now also set to feature at the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles, the Olympic Council of Asia has decided to continue with cricket at the 2026 Asian Games as well. As a result, they’ve chosen to include cricket instead of open water swimming in the upcoming edition.

Japan is set to host the 2026 Asian Games from September 19 to October 4 mainly in Aichi Prefecture, around Nagoya. But there’s still some doubt about where the cricket matches will be held, since Aichi doesn’t have proper cricket facilities. Japan has only six cricket grounds, and just one of them the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi is good enough for international-level games.

In the 2022 edition of the Asian Games, which was held in 2023 due to Covid, the men’s cricket event saw participation from 14 teams. Nine of them played in the group stage Nepal, Mongolia, Cambodia, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, Maldives, Hong Kong, and Thailand. From these, Nepal, Hong Kong, and Malaysia made it to the quarterfinals, joining India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh, who had already qualified. India went on to win the men’s tournament.

The women’s event featured eight teams. Four Indonesia, Mongolia, Malaysia, and Hong Kong competed in the group stage, with Mongolia being eliminated. The other five teams India, Pakistan, Thailand, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka directly entered the quarterfinals. Just like in the men’s tournament, India clinched the gold in the women’s event as well.

Cricket Medal Winners at the Asian Games (2010–2023)