Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket: Tournament Overview
The men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games will be played in the T20 format from September 24 to October 3, 2026, in Japan.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been seeded directly into the knockout stage. The remaining teams will compete in the group stage for quarter-final places.
The tournament will take place at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan. India enter the competition as the defending men’s champions, having won gold at the 2022 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Asian Games 2026 |
| Sport | Men’s Cricket |
| Format | T20 |
| Start Date | September 24, 2026 |
| Final Date | October 3, 2026 |
| Host Country | Japan |
| Venue | Korogi Athletic Park, Nisshin |
| Defending Champions | India |
| Knockout Stage Begins | September 28, 2026 |
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Schedule: Full Fixtures
The official Asian Games cricket calendar runs from September 24 to October 3. The men’s competition features group-stage matches, quarter-finals, semi-finals and medal matches.
Here is the complete Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket fixture list, including the scheduled match times in Japan Standard Time (JST) and Indian Standard Time (IST).
Men’s Cricket Group Stage Schedule
| Date | Match | Japan Time (JST) | India Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Afghanistan vs Japan | 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| September 24 | Hong Kong vs Malaysia | 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM |
| September 25 | Hong Kong vs Oman | 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| September 25 | Afghanistan vs Nepal | 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM |
| September 26 | Japan vs Nepal | 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| September 26 | Malaysia vs Oman | 2:00 PM | 10:30 AM |
The group stage will feature Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal in Group A, while Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman will compete in Group B.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Knockout Schedule
| Date | Match | Japan Time (JST) | India Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 28 | Quarter-final: Pakistan vs Group B runner-up | 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| September 28 | Quarter-final: India vs Group A runner-up | 1:30 PM | 10:00 AM |
| September 29 | Quarter-final: Sri Lanka vs Group A winner | 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| September 29 | Quarter-final: Bangladesh vs Group B winner | 1:30 PM | 10:00 AM |
| October 1 | Semi-final: Winner of QF 1 vs Winner of QF 4 | 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| October 1 | Semi-final: Winner of QF 2 vs Winner of QF 3 | 1:30 PM | 10:00 AM |
| October 3 | Bronze Medal Match | 9:00 AM | 5:30 AM |
| October 3 | Gold Medal Match (Final) | 1:30 PM | 10:00 AM |
All fixtures and match times are based on the official Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Groups and Teams
Eight teams will feature in the men’s cricket competition. Four teams are seeded directly into the quarter-finals, while six teams will compete in the preliminary group stage.
| Group A | Group B | Seeded Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Hong Kong | India |
| Japan | Malaysia | Pakistan |
| Nepal | Oman | Bangladesh |
| — | — | Sri Lanka |
The top two teams from each group will join the four seeded nations in the quarter-finals. This means India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will not play in the preliminary group stage.
When Will India Play in Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket?
India will begin its Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket campaign directly in the quarter-finals on September 28.
The Indian team will face the second-placed team from Group A. The match is scheduled for 1:30 PM JST, which is 10:00 AM IST.
If India win their quarter-final, they will advance to the semi-finals on October 1. The gold and bronze medal matches are scheduled for October 3.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Format
The men’s cricket tournament will follow the T20 format, with each team playing a maximum of 20 overs per innings.
The competition will begin with a group stage involving six teams. The top two sides from each group will progress to the quarter-finals, where they will meet the four seeded teams.
The winners of the quarter-finals will advance to the semi-finals. The semi-final winners will compete for gold, while the losing teams will play for the bronze medal.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Venue
All men’s cricket matches are scheduled to take place at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan.
The venue features a cricket ground developed for the Asian Games. It will host the group-stage matches, knockout fixtures and medal matches during the men’s competition.
FAQs: Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Schedule
1. When will the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket tournament start?
The men’s cricket tournament will begin on September 24, 2026, with Afghanistan taking on Japan.
2. When is the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket final?
The men’s cricket gold medal match is scheduled for October 3, 2026, at 1:30 PM JST (10:00 AM IST).
3. When will India play its first men’s cricket match at the Asian Games 2026?
India will play its quarter-final on September 28, 2026, against the second-placed team from Group A. The match is scheduled for 10:00 AM IST.
4. Where will the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket matches be played?
All men’s cricket matches are scheduled at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Japan.
