Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule Announced for Men’s and Women’s Teams
The full cricket schedule for the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, has been revealed, detailing the men's (Sept 24-Oct 3) and women's (Sept 17-22) T20 tournaments. Defending champions India will aim for double gold, with the men's team beginning their quarter-final on September 28 and the women's team facing Japan on September 18.
Cricket is gearing up for a prominent return at the Asian Games 2026 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, with the official schedule for both men's and women's T20 tournaments now announced. India, the reigning gold medalists in both categories from the 2023 edition, will be looking to continue their undisputed reign in multi-team T20 events. All matches are slated to be played at the Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture. Cricket at Asian Games 2026: Venue, Teams and All You Need to Know.
Women's Tournament: Direct Knockout Challenge
The women’s cricket tournament will run from September 17 to September 22, featuring a direct knockout format. India's Harmanpreet Kaur-led side, who secured gold against Sri Lanka in the 2023 finals, will commence their title defence in the quarter-finals. This event offers a significant opportunity for the team to bounce back following their humiliating group-stage exit from the ICC T20 World Cup 2026.
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 17 September | 09:00 | Bangladesh vs People’s Republic of China |
| 17 September | 14:00 | Pakistan vs Thailand |
| 18 September | 09:00 | Sri Lanka vs Malaysia |
| 18 September | 14:00 | India vs Japan |
| 20 September | 09:00 | Semi-final – Winner of Match 2 vs Winner of Match 3 |
| 20 September | 14:00 | Semi-final – Winner of Match 1 vs Winner of Match 4 |
| 22 September | 09:00 | Bronze Medal Match |
| 22 September | 14:00 | Final |
Note: All times are local Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9).
Men's Tournament: India Seeded for Quarter-finals
The men's competition is scheduled from September 24 to October 3. The tournament will kick off with preliminary qualification matches before moving into the knockout stages. India, who clinched gold by defeating Afghanistan in the 2023 final, will enter the competition directly at the quarter-final stage, along with other seeded nations Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.
Participating Teams and Groups:
- Group A: Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal
- Group B: Hong Kong, China, Malaysia, Oman
- Seeded (Direct Quarter-finalists): India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh
| Date | Time | Match |
|---|---|---|
| 24 September | 09:00 | Afghanistan vs Japan |
| 24 September | 14:00 | Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia |
| 25 September | 09:00 | Hong Kong, China vs Oman |
| 25 September | 14:00 | Afghanistan vs Nepal |
| 26 September | 09:00 | Japan vs Nepal |
| 26 September | 14:00 | Malaysia vs Oman |
| 28 September | 09:00 | Quarter-final – Pakistan vs 2nd place of Group B |
| 28 September | 14:00 | Quarter-final – India vs 2nd place of Group A |
| 29 September | 09:00 | Quarter-final – Sri Lanka vs Winner of Group A |
| 29 September | 14:00 | Quarter-final – Bangladesh vs Winner of Group B |
| 1 October | 09:00 | Semi-final – Winner of QF1 vs Winner of QF4 |
| 1 October | 14:00 | Semi-final – Winner of QF2 vs Winner of QF3 |
| 3 October | 09:00 | Bronze Medal Match |
| 3 October | 14:00 | Final |
Note: All times are local Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9).
India's Road to Gold and Where to Watch
India's men's team will begin their campaign on September 28, playing the second-place team from Group A in their quarter-final. The women's team will face Japan in their quarter-final on September 18. Both Indian teams are formidable contenders, with the men's side looking to maintain their dominant run and the women's team eager to regain momentum after recent setbacks.
Cricket made its debut at the Asian Games in 2010, and India and Pakistan currently share the record for the most gold medals in the sport, with two each. India Squad for Asian Games 2026: Shreyas Iyer to Lead, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, and Vaibhav Sooryavanshi Included.
For fans in India, the Asian Games 2026 cricket matches will be telecast on the Sony Sports Network, with live streaming available on the SonyLIV app and website.
The unveiling of the full cricket schedule sets the stage for an exciting series of matches at the Korogi Athletic Park, promising thrilling encounters as nations vie for continental supremacy.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 26, 2026 11:29 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
