The cricket schedule for the Asian Games was officially unveiled on Sunday, with matches set to be played from September 17 to October 3, according to Olympics.com. The tournament will be held in the T20 format for both men’s and women’s competitions, promising fast-paced action during the continental multi-sport event.
Japan will host the Asian Games from September 19 to October 4, though competitions in several disciplines — including cricket — will begin ahead of the official opening ceremony. The detailed schedule was released by the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC).
All cricket matches will be staged at Korogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture.
Women’s Cricket: Tournament Begins September 17
The women’s cricket competition will get underway on September 17, making it one of the earliest events at the Games. The matches to decide the medallists will begin from September 22.
- Number of teams: 8
- Format: Direct knockout
- Starting stage: Quarterfinals
- Defending champions: India
With a straight knockout structure, every match will be crucial, leaving no margin for error as teams battle for a place on the podium.
Men’s Cricket: Action From September 24 to October 3
The men’s cricket tournament will begin on September 24, with the medal matches scheduled for October 3. India will enter the competition as the defending gold medallists.
- Number of teams: 10
- Format: Includes preliminary matches followed by quarterfinals
If the tournament follows the same structure as the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, the top four seeded teams will advance directly to the quarterfinals. The remaining six teams will compete in preliminary matches over three days to determine the other four quarterfinalists.
Match Timings and Double-Headers
All matchdays will feature double-headers, ensuring fans get to watch multiple games each day.
- Morning match:
- 9:00 AM local time (Japan)
- 5:30 AM IST
- Afternoon match:
- 2:00 PM local time (Japan)
- 10:30 AM IST
With both men’s and women’s teams competing in the T20 format and India defending titles in both categories, cricket is set to be one of the marquee attractions of the Asian Games in Japan.