Asian Games 2026 cricket fixtures revealed: Check out the full schedule of men's and women's games – Firstpost

The cricket schedule for the Asian Games 2026 was officially announced on Tuesday, giving fans a clear idea of when the men’s and women’s tournaments will take place. Cricket matches at the Games will be played between September 17 and October 3, and will start even before the official opening ceremony of the multi-sport event.

The Asian Games 2026 will be hosted by Japan in Aichi-Nagoya from September 19 to October 4. However, as per the schedule released by the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC), some events will begin nine days earlier. All cricket matches will be played in the T20 format at the Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi prefecture.

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Cricket has had limited appearances at the Asian Games despite its popularity in the region. Out of 19 editions so far, the sport has featured only three times. Cricket was first included as a medal event at the Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010 and returned again in 2014. However, those matches did not carry international status.

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The sport made a comeback at the Hangzhou Asian Games in 2023 after being dropped in Jakarta 2018. This time, the International Cricket Council (ICC) granted international status to the matches, adding more importance to the tournament. Both men’s and women’s T20 competitions have been part of all three editions in which cricket featured.

In terms of past champions, Bangladesh won the men’s gold medal in 2010, while Pakistan claimed the women’s title. Pakistan successfully defended their women’s gold in 2014, while Sri Lanka won the men’s tournament. India made their Asian Games cricket debut in 2023 and enjoyed a dream run by winning gold medals in both the men’s and women’s events.

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Although the final list of teams for the 2026 Asian Games is yet to be confirmed, qualification is expected to be based on international rankings. India are expected top feature again in the 2026 edition.

India sent a younger verein in the men’s cricket competition at the last edition of the Asian Games, with Ruturaj Gaikwad as captain. However, the women’s gruppe featured a full-strength squad led by Harmanpreet Kaur.

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Women’s cricket schedule at Asian Games 2026

The women’s cricket competition will begin on September 17 with the quarter-finals and conclude with the gold medal match on September 22.

September 17: Quarter-finals 1 & 2

September 18: Quarter-finals 3 & 4

September 20: Semi-finals

September 22: Bronze medal match and gold medal match

All matches will start at either 5:30 AM IST or 10:30 AM IST.

Men’s cricket schedule at Asian Games 2026

The men’s tournament will start with preliminary qualifiers on September 24 and will run until October 3, when the medal matches will be played.

September 24–26: Preliminary qualifiers

September 28–29: Quarter-finals

October 1: Semi-finals

October 3: Bronze medal match and gold medal match

Like the women’s games, men’s matches will also be played in two daily slots at 5:30 AM IST and 10:30 AM IST.

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