Cricket returns to the Asian Games program at the 20th Asian Games in Aichi, Japan, with both men’s and women’s T20I tournaments running from September 17 to October 3, 2026. Matches will be played at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi, a purpose-built facility with a capacity of 5,000. This marks a historic moment for cricket in Japan and for the sport’s push toward broader Olympic recognition.
The women’s tournament begins on September 17, with women’s medal matches on September 22. The men’s tournament follows, with medal matches on October 3. Asian Games cricket features full international teams, making this a significant event in the cricket calendar. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan are among the expected participants, bringing high-quality T20I cricket to a non-traditional cricket nation.
Japan Standard Time (JST, UTC+9) presents unique viewing windows for cricket fans globally. A 10:00 JST start is 01:00 in London, 06:30 in India, and 20:00 the previous day in New York. Afternoon matches at 14:00 JST are 05:00 in London and 10:30 in India. The timezone heavily favors East Asian and Australian audiences while presenting early-morning challenges for South Asian viewers and overnight viewing for Europeans and Americans. Check whatisthetime.now/country/japan for current Japanese time.
Cricket at the Asian Games is part of the sport’s broader multi-sport event strategy. The 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou included cricket, and the sport’s inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics (women’s T20) builds on these multi-sport appearances. For Indian and Pakistani fans, the Asian Games cricket overlaps with Australia’s tour of South Africa and India’s tour of New Zealand, creating a busy October in the cricket calendar. The Japanese venue adds an exotic dimension, bringing cricket to a country where baseball dominates but cricket interest is growing.