The cricket schedule for the Asian Games was announced on Sunday, with matches set to be played between September 17 and October 3. As per Olympics.com, the Aichi–Nagoya Asian Games will be hosted by Japan and will officially take place from September 19 to October 4, although some events, including cricket, will begin a few days earlier.
Cricket format in Asian Games 2026
All cricket matches at the Games will be played in the T20 format and will include both men’s and women’s competitions. Every match will take place at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.
Cricket schedule for Asian Games 2026
September 17: Quarterfinal 1 & 2
September 18: Quarterfinal 3 & 4
September 20: Semifinal 1 & 2
September 22: Bronze medal match (3rd place playoff) and Gold medal match (final)
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Cricket schedule for Women's in the Asia Cup 2026
The women’s tournament will begin on September 17, with the medal matches starting from September 22. Eight teams will take part, and the competition will follow a direct knockout format from the quarterfinal stage. India will enter the tournament as the defending champions.
Cricket schedule for Men's in the Asia Cup 2026
The men’s competition will start on September 24, with the medal matches scheduled for October 3. Ten teams will compete in total, with the opening three days reserved for preliminary matches before the quarterfinals.
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Qualification scenario for Asian Games 2026
As seen in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, the top four seeded teams are expected to move straight into the quarterfinals, while the remaining six teams will fight it out in preliminary matches for the other available spots.
Each matchday will feature two games. The morning match will begin at 9 AM local time (5:30 AM IST), while the afternoon game will start at 2 PM local time (10:30 AM IST).
India's last outing in the Asian Games 2026
At the 2023 Asian Games, India featured both men’s and women’s teams, wearing specially designed jerseys for the event. The men’s side was a second-string squad led by Ruturaj Gaikwad, giving selectors a chance to try out new players. Several cricketers made their India debuts during the tournament.
India comfortably defeated Nepal and Bangladesh to reach the final against Afghanistan. However, the final was washed out due to rain, and India were declared champions based on their higher world T20 ranking.