Tag: Asian Games 2026

SINGAPORE: Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Oman have sealed their places in the Asian Games, scheduled to be held in Japan from September 24 to October 3. 

All four teams booked their spots after featuring in the ongoing seven-team qualifying event in Singapore. The final of the event will be played on 8 June.

After Qatar’s withdrawal, Nepal topped Group A by dominant wins over China and Malaysia. Meanwhile, Malaysia advanced after securing a victory over China.

Nepal, who featured in the T20 World Cup earlier this year, opened its campaign with a commanding 221-run victory over China.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

Opener Kushal Bhurtel starred with a blistering 43-ball 129 as Nepal registered multiple 300-plus totals in men’s T20 cricket for the first time in history. They followed it up with another dominant win over Malaysia by 167 runs, with Bhurtel scoring yet another century in their total of 275 for 7.

Hong Kong finished on top of Group B after remaining undefeated, winning all their matches against Bahrain, Singapore, and Oman.

Oman also qualified after defeating Bahrain and Singapore, and finished second despite losing to Hong Kong.

For the unversed, the four teams will join Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka. who have automatically qualified for the Asian Games on the basis of ICC full membership. Japan, on the other hand, qualified as host of the tournament.

READ: Alexander Zverev eases past Mensik to reach French Open final

Cricket is officially set to be part of the 20th Asian Games, scheduled to take place in Japan from September 19 to October 4, 2026, with the matches to be played in the T20 format.

The decision follows a series of meetings between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC), with final approval pending a formal nod from the OCA Board, expected to be a mere formality.

According to a statement from a Japan Cricket Association (JCA) official, the 3rd OCA Coordination Committee Meeting will be held from May 1 to 2, where final confirmations regarding the cricket competition are expected.

The meetings, which begin on April 30 and run until May 2, are likely to finalise key logistical and scheduling details.

As in past tournaments, the excitement of cricket will unfold in its fastest and most exhilarating format—T20.

While the exact number of nations joining this thrilling competition is still under wraps, the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou provide a tantalising glimpse of what’s to come.

Follow us on our Official WhatsApp channel

With 14 men’s and nine women’s teams fiercely vying for glory, cricket enthusiasts can look forward to an electrifying array of talent and fierce competition once again.

India will enter the 2026 Asian Games as defending cricket champions in both men’s and women’s categories, having clinched gold in Hangzhou.

A significant point of discussion is the venue. While the JCA has confirmed that the matches will be hosted in Aichi Prefecture, the exact location remains undecided.

Interestingly, organisers are exploring the possibility of constructing a modular stadium—similar to the temporary venue set up in New York for the ICC T20 World Cup—suggesting an innovative approach to accommodate cricket’s growing footprint.

“There’s a lot of interest—not just because of cricket’s popularity in South Asia, but also due to its inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics,” the OCA noted.

The upcoming Asian Games will feature a total of 41 sports and are expected to bring together approximately 15,000 athletes and officials from the 45 member nations of the OCA.

READ: PSL reaches a major milestone with completion of 300 matches