The cricket schedule for the 2026 Asian Games has been confirmed by the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organizing Committee. The tournament will be played in the T20 format and run from September 17 to October 3 in Japan, starting before the official Asian Games dates of September 19 to October 4.
India will enter the tournament as defending champions in both the men’s and women’s competitions. The women’s team won the gold medal by defeating Sri Lanka by 19 runs in the final. In the men’s event, Ruturaj Gaikwad led India to the gold medal when the final against Afghanistan was abandoned due to rain.
Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule and format confirmed
The Asian Games cricket tournament begins on September 17, with the gold medal matches taking place on October 3. According to Olympics.com, Japan will host the event in Aichi-Nagoya, and all men’s and women’s matches will be played at Karogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.
The competition will be played entirely in T20 format. As per the schedule, the men’s tournament will start on September 24 and end on October 3. A total of 10 teams will participate, including defending champion India.
If the rules remain the same as the 2023 Asian Games, the top four seeded teams will advance directly to the quarterfinals, while the remaining six teams will play preliminary matches for other spots.
Each match day will feature double-headers, with games starting at 5:30 am IST and 10:30 am IST, followed by 9 am and 2 pm local time in Japan.
Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket to start from September 17
The women’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games will begin on September 17, with the medal matches taking place on September 22. The tournament will feature eight teams and will follow a knockout format, starting straight from the quarter-final stage.
Cricket will be included in the Asian Games for the fourth time. The game has appeared only three times in 19 editions of the tournament, with the latest being the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Cricket first appeared at the Asian Games in Guangzhou 2010 and returned in Incheon 2014, although those editions did not achieve international status. Beyond the Asian Games, cricket will return to the Olympics in LA 2028, marking its first Olympic appearance since 1900.
Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket schedule:
| date | Matchbox |
|---|---|
| 24 September | Preliminary Qualifiers 1 and 2 |
| 25 September | Preliminary Qualifiers 3 and 4 |
| 26 September | Preliminary Qualifiers 5 and 6 |
| 28 September | Quarterfinals 1 and 2 |
| 1 October | Semifinals 1 and 2 |
| 3 October | Bronze Medal Match (3rd Place Playoff) and Gold Medal Match |
Asian Games 2026 women’s cricket schedule:
| date | Matchbox |
|---|---|
| 17 September | Quarterfinals 1 and 2 |
| 18 September | Quarterfinals 3 and 4 |
| 20 September | Semifinals 1 and 2 |
| 22 September | Bronze Medal Match (3rd Place Playoff) and Gold Medal Match (Final) |
Also read: “Will have to host without crowd” – Delhi Capitals, Mumbai Indians matches in WPL 2026 hit by security issues
