Asian Games 2026: Men’s cricket knockout fixtures shifted earlier; revised schedule, reason and more

The men’s cricket knockout fixtures have gone through a little change at the Asian Games 2026. The schedule has shifted half an hour earlier while the women’s fixtures remain unaffected. Organisers of the tournament in Japan have revised the schedule for the men’s cricket knockout stage, bringing selected afternoon matches forward by 30 minutes.

While afternoon fixtures will now start at 1:30 pm local time rather than the original 2:00 pm, the morning matches remain unchanged at 9:00 am. The adjustment applies to the second quarter-final on 28 September, the second semi-final on 1 October (should India progress), and the gold-medal match on 3 October. 

Asian Games 2026: Men’s cricket knockout fixtures shifted earlier; revised schedule, reason and more 

Hence, India’s quarterfinal on September 28 has now been rescheduled to 1:30 AM local time instead of 2 PM, the second quarterfinal on October 1 and the final on October 3 have also been moved half an hour earlier. The rest of the matches will go on as per the early schedule. 

The first quarter-final, first semi-final and bronze-medal play-off stay at their original morning slots. India’s potential quarter-final is among the matches affected and will begin at 1:30 pm Japan time, which is 3 hours and 30 minutes ahead of India, or 10:00 am IST. 

Women’s matches and the preliminary round are unaffected. Officials cited early evening darkness in Japan and the absence of floodlights at the venue as the reason for the change. Men’s games, which tend to run longer, risked finishing in poor light under the previous timetable. The revision aims to ensure all knockout contests can be completed in daylight.

ALSO READ: WTC Points Table 2025-27: Updated standings after England's Test series sweep over Pakistan