Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket begins in Japan on September 24, with 10 teams competing in a T20 tournament that will conclude with the medal matches on October 3. Pakistan are among four seeded teams and will enter the knockout stage directly, while Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman will compete in the group phase. The tournament is being played at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, with Pakistan preparing under captain Sahibzada Farhan
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket: Format and Teams
The men’s cricket competition at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will be played in the T20 format. The 10 teams are divided into two preliminary groups.
Group A contains Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal, while Group B features Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been seeded directly into the knockout stage.
The top two teams from each preliminary group will advance to the quarter-finals. Pakistan will play the second-placed team from Group B on September 28, while India will face the second-placed side from Group A on the same day. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, followed by the bronze-medal match and final on October 3.
The format gives the four seeded teams a direct route into the quarter-finals, so Pakistan will not play a group-stage match before its opening knockout fixture.
Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh Among the Seeded Teams
India enter the competition as the defending men’s Asian Games champions after winning gold at the 2022 Hangzhou Games. India are again among the four seeded sides alongside Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
India’s 2026 squad is captained by Shreyas Iyer and includes Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Sanju Samson.
Bangladesh have selected Litton Das as captain, with Najmul Hossain Shanto, Tawhid Hridoy, Rishad Hossain and Mustafizur Rahman also included.
Afghanistan are among the preliminary-round teams and have named Darwish Rasooli as captain. Their group includes hosts Japan and Nepal.
A possible Pakistan-India meeting depends on the knockout results and bracket.
Cricket’s Place in the Asian Games
The 2026 competition is the fourth edition of the Asian Games cricket tournament, according to the International Cricket Council. Cricket was also part of the 2010 Guangzhou, 2014 Incheon and 2022 Hangzhou Games. India won the men’s gold medal in Hangzhou, while Afghanistan took silver and Bangladesh won bronze. The 2026 event therefore gives the four seeded teams another chance to compete for continental medals while allowing developing cricket nations to play on an international multi-sport stage.
Why the Asian Games Cricket Tournament Matters
The 2026 tournament is notable because it is being staged in Japan, where the organisers have developed a natural-grass cricket ground at Korogi Athletic Park.
The official Aichi-Nagoya organisers describe the Nisshin City facility as the second venue in Japan with a natural-grass pitch meeting requirements for international competition.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket: What to Watch
The main focus for Pakistani fans will be the quarter-final on September 28, Sahibzada Farhan’s leadership and the contribution of younger Pakistan Squad .
India’s title defence will be another major storyline, while Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka provide competition among Asia’s established cricket nations
The Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket tournament will run from September 24 to October 3 in Japan, with Pakistan entering directly at the quarter-final stage. Sahibzada Farhan will lead a 15-member squad combining experienced T20 players with emerging names. Pakistan’s campaign begins on September 28 against the second-placed team from Group B.
