Cricket is set to return to the Asian Games for the fourth time in the last five editions when the multi-sport event takes place in Nagoya, Japan. India enter the competition as defending champions in both the men’s and women’s events after winning gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The women’s final is scheduled for September 22, while the men’s gold-medal match will be played on October 3. The tournament will bring together several of Asia’s leading cricket nations alongside emerging teams looking to make an impact on a major sporting stage.
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Different Formats for Men and Women
The men’s competition will feature 10 teams and will be played in two phases. The six lowest-seeded teams have been divided into two groups of three, with the top two sides from each group progressing to the knockout stage.
Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal form Group A, while Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman are in Group B. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh have received byes into the quarter-finals.
The women’s tournament will have a simpler format, with eight teams competing in a straight knockout competition. ICC Full Members and hosts Japan received automatic qualification, while additional places were secured through the qualifying process.
India Face Japan in Women’s Opener
India’s women will begin their Asian Games campaign against hosts Japan on September 17. The winner will advance to face the winner of Bangladesh versus China in the next round.
India’s squad is led by Harmanpreet Kaur and includes prominent names such as Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Renuka Singh and Shreyanka Patil.
The women’s semi-finals are scheduled for September 20, followed by the bronze and gold-medal matches on September 22.
Men’s Tournament Begins on September 24
The men’s preliminary competition begins on September 24, with Japan facing Afghanistan in Group A and Hong Kong taking on Malaysia in Group B.
The group-stage fixtures will continue over three matchdays before the quarter-finals begin on September 28. India will face the Group A runner-up, while Pakistan will meet the Group B runner-up. Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will take on the respective group winners on September 29.
The semi-finals will be played on October 1, with the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches scheduled for October 3.
Nagoya Venue Ready for Cricket
The Nisshin Cricket Ground, located at Korogi Sports Park on the outskirts of Nagoya, will host the cricket competition. The venue recently staged the East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup Sub-Regional Qualifier as a test event.
The ground features a hybrid pitch designed to offer characteristics similar to pitches in Pakistan, providing both bounce and turn. Temporary stands have also been installed, with capacity for around 2,000 spectators.
With India arriving as double defending champions and Japan hosting its first major Asian Games cricket tournament, the event is expected to provide both established cricketing nations and developing teams with an important platform.
