Cricket Set to Return at 2026 Asian Games in Japan

Cricket is all set to make a return to the Asian Games once again, with the Olympic Council of Asia confirming the sport will be part of the 2026 edition in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The event is scheduled from September 19 to October 4, and while matches will be held across Aichi Prefecture, the final venues are still to be announced.

The decision was made official during the 41st meeting of the AINAGOC Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on Monday, April 28. The OCA announced, "The latest development in the compilation of the sports programme came at the 41st meeting of the AINAGOC Board of Directors at Nagoya City Hall on Monday, April 28, when cricket and Mixed Martial Arts were both formally approved." 

This will be the fourth time cricket features at the Asian Games. Back in 2010 (Guangzhou) and 2014 (Incheon), the matches didn’t carry official international status. That changed with the 2023 Games in Hangzhou, where the contests were classified as T20 internationals. In Hangzhou, India took home gold in both the men’s and women’s events. Afghanistan and Bangladesh grabbed silver and bronze respectively in the men's category, while Sri Lanka took silver and Bangladesh bronze in the women’s. Alongside the medal-winning nations, several other teams also participated, including Pakistan, Nepal, Maldives, Mongolia, Hong Kong, Japan, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia. 

Looking beyond 2026, cricket is also set to make a historic Olympic return at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, with T20 matches scheduled for both men’s and women’s teams. Only six sides will take part in each category, though the exact qualification process hasn’t been confirmed yet. 

Also Read: Sunil Narine Creates History with Most T20 Wickets for a Single Team