The Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket competition is set to bring some of Asia’s leading cricket nations together in Japan, with the T20 tournament scheduled from September 24 to October 3, 2026.
The competition will be staged at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, with India entering the tournament as the defending men's cricket champions after winning gold at the Hangzhou Asian Games.
The 2026 tournament features 10 teams, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong China, Malaysia, Oman and hosts Japan.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have received direct entry into the quarter-finals, while the remaining six teams will compete in the preliminary group stage for the four remaining knockout places.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket: Key Details
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket |
| Edition | 20th Asian Games |
| Format | T20 |
| Host | Japan |
| Cricket Venue | Korogi Athletic Park, Nisshin, Aichi |
| Men's Cricket Start Date | September 24, 2026 |
| Gold Medal Match | October 3, 2026 |
| Teams | 10 |
| Format Structure | Group Stage → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Medal Matches |
| Defending Champion | India |
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Teams
The 10 teams participating in the men's cricket competition are:
- India
- Pakistan
- Sri Lanka
- Bangladesh
- Afghanistan
- Nepal
- Hong Kong China
- Malaysia
- Oman
- Japan
Four teams — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — enter directly at the quarter-final stage.
Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Groups
The other six teams have been divided into two preliminary groups. The top two teams from each group will progress to the quarter-finals.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Afghanistan | Hong Kong China |
| Japan | Malaysia |
| Nepal | Oman |
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Full Schedule
| Date | Match | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Afghanistan vs Japan | Group Stage |
| September 24 | Hong Kong China vs Malaysia | Group Stage |
| September 25 | Hong Kong China vs Oman | Group Stage |
| September 25 | Afghanistan vs Nepal | Group Stage |
| September 26 | Japan vs Nepal | Group Stage |
| September 26 | Malaysia vs Oman | Group Stage |
| September 28 | Pakistan vs Group B Runner-up | Quarter-final |
| September 28 | India vs Group A Runner-up | Quarter-final |
| September 29 | Sri Lanka vs Group A Winner | Quarter-final |
| September 29 | Bangladesh vs Group B Winner | Quarter-final |
| October 1 | Semi-final 1 | Semi-final |
| October 1 | Semi-final 2 | Semi-final |
| October 3 | Bronze Medal Match | Medal Match |
| October 3 | Gold Medal Match | Final |
India’s Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule
As one of the four seeded teams, India will not participate in the preliminary group stage. The defending champions will enter directly in the knockout phase.
India's quarter-final is scheduled for September 28, where they will face the runner-up from Group A.
A victory would send India into the semi-finals on October 1, with the men's cricket medal matches scheduled for October 3.
| Date | India Match | Stage |
|---|---|---|
| September 28 | India vs Group A Runner-up | Quarter-final |
| October 1 | Potential India Match | Semi-final |
| October 3 | Potential India Match | Bronze/Gold Medal Match |
India Enter as Defending Asian Games Champions
India arrive in Japan as the defending men's cricket gold medallists following their success at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China.
Cricket at the Asian Games is particularly significant because teams are competing not simply for another bilateral or tournament trophy, but for medals representing their respective countries.
India will therefore be attempting to defend their title and win a second consecutive Asian Games men's cricket gold medal.
Asian Games 2026 Cricket Venue
The men's cricket competition will be staged at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin City, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
The venue has been prepared for T20 cricket as part of the sporting infrastructure for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
Both the men's and women's cricket competitions are scheduled at the venue.
Afghanistan, Nepal and Japan in Group A
Group A should provide an interesting contest, with Afghanistan, Nepal and hosts Japan competing for two quarter-final positions.
Afghanistan and Nepal bring considerable T20 experience, while Japan will have the advantage of playing the competition on home soil.
The group begins with Afghanistan facing Japan on September 24.
Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman in Group B
Group B features Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman.
All three teams will be targeting one of the two available quarter-final positions, making every preliminary match important.
Hong Kong China and Malaysia open the Group B campaign on September 24.
How Does Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Qualification Work?
The qualification structure is relatively straightforward.
Group Stage → Quarter-finals → Semi-finals → Bronze/Gold Medal Matches
Six teams participate in the preliminary stage, divided into two groups of three.
The top two teams from each group advance, creating four qualifiers.
Those four teams then join India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the quarter-finals.
The quarter-final winners progress to the semi-finals, while the semi-final winners contest the gold medal match.
The losing semi-finalists meet in the bronze medal match.
Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Medal Matches
The men's cricket medals will be decided on October 3, 2026.
The bronze-medal contest will be played first, followed by the Asian Games men's cricket gold-medal match.
That final will determine which country succeeds India — or whether India successfully defend their Asian Games cricket crown.
Why Asian Games 2026 Cricket Matters
Cricket's inclusion in the Asian Games provides an important opportunity for the sport to reach audiences beyond its traditional strongholds.
Hosting the competition in Japan is particularly significant as cricket continues attempting to expand its presence in East Asia.
For emerging teams, the Asian Games also offers valuable exposure against established Asian cricket nations.
For India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, meanwhile, the tournament offers the opportunity to add an Asian Games medal to their international achievements.
Road to the Asian Games 2026 Men's Cricket Gold Medal
The journey begins on September 24 with the preliminary stage and concludes on October 3 with the gold-medal match.
India enter as defending champions, but Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan are among the teams capable of challenging for medals.
The short T20 format also increases the possibility of surprises, particularly once the tournament reaches the knockout rounds.
With national pride and an Asian Games gold medal at stake, the men's cricket tournament should be one of the most closely followed team events at Aichi-Nagoya 2026.
