The 2026 Asian Games have begun in Aichi-Nagoya, and the men's cricket competition will take place from September 24, when Japan take on Afghanistan in the opener. Cricket is being played for the fourth time at the event, and here's everything you need to know about it.
When is the event happening and which teams will play?
The men's cricket tournament will be played from September 24 to October 3.
Ten teams will feature. First are the Full Members, who qualified automatically: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Then there are the top four teams from the 2026 Asian Games Qualifier, which was played this June: Hong Kong, Malaysia, Nepal and Oman. Finally, there is the host country, Japan, who played in the last Asian Games in the 2023 edition as well, winning and losing a game each in the group stage.
What is the format of this tournament?
The six lowest-seeded teams - including only Afghanistan among the full Members - have been placed in two groups of three. They will play each other once, in a single round-robin format, from September 24 to 26. After this stage, the top two countries from each group will advance to the quarter-finals.
The remaining four Full Member teams received automatic byes straight to the quarter-finals, based on their ICC rankings. They will face the four group-stage qualifiers in a knockout format beginning September 28. The quarter-finals, then the semi-finals, will be followed by the final as well as a 3rd place play-off, both played on October 3.
Two matches will be played every day: the first game will be played at 10am local / 5.30am IST / midnight GMT followed by the second at 2pm local / 10.30 am IST / 5am GMT.
Who are the players to watch out for?
India's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi - if he plays - and Jasprit Bumrah will be star attractions. Litton Das is expected to lead Bangladesh, while mercurial talent Saim Ayub is also back in Pakistan colours.
Experienced legspinner Sandeep Lamichhane will lead Nepal's bowling attack, which gave England a scare at the recent T20 World Cup. Japan's Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming - son of a Japanese mother and Australian father - also finds himself in the spotlight as the home team's captain. The 30-year-old Kadowaki-Fleming is Japan's opener and highest run-getter, and will be looking to go big against Asia's top teams.
Are India the favourites?
India have won the previous two T20 World Cups, and also decided to send a full-strength side to Japan, despite West Indies playing three ODIs against them in a series that runs concurrently back in India.
The only other first-choice Full Member squad has been sent by Bangladesh, who are No. 8 in the ICC team rankings. India are the clear favourites to win this tournament, with VVS Laxman apppointed as their temporary head coach for the tour.
Will India and Pakistan face each other?
It is not a guarantee, but they are likely to meet in the first semi-final, on October 1, given they both win their quarter-final games against lesser-fancied opponents.
When was men's cricket last played at the Asian Games?
Cricket - both the men's and women's events - was first played at the Asian Games in 2010, when Bangladesh won the men's gold medal after their five-wicket win over Afghanistan. Cricket was also played in 2014 and 2023.
India are the defending gold-medal winners from Hangzhou, in what was also their first appearance at the tournament. They had missed the previous two editions because of scheduling conflicts. However, India only triumphed in the 2023 final against Afghanistan since they were the higher-ranked side, after the game was washed out.
How will washouts be decided this time around?
Cricinfo understands that the playing conditions remain the same as last time. If a knockout game is abandoned with no result possible, the higher-seeded team - based on ICC's official T20I rankings - will be declared the game's winner.
Where will the matches be played and is bad weather likely?
All 14 games will be played at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Japan, located in the outskirts of Nagoya. The ground also hosted the women's event at this Asian Games, and will continue to make use of its hybrid pitch.
Bad weather washed out the first quarter-final of the women's tournament, and there are forecasts of sporadic storms September 24 onwards.