Advertisement
Cricket enjoyed a successful run at the 2026 Asian Games, however, its inclusion in the 2026 edition in Nagoya, Japan, has been left in a fix.
Despite a strong backing from both the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and Japanese organizing committee for cricket’s inclusion in the upcoming Asian Games, the game faces logistical challenges.
To implement the logistics, such as finding suitable venues and repurposing baseball stadiums for cricket, have posed unprecedented hurdles for the organizers.
Advertisement
As per the report, cricket is unlikely to be a part of 2026 Asian Games despite the organizers having a plan to convert a baseball stadium into a venue for cricket.
Vinod Kumar Tiwari, the deputy director general of the OCA, has expressed support for cricket’s inclusion in the 2026 Asian Games. He stated that “the organizing committee is very keen on including that (cricket) in the 2026 Asian Games.”
However, reports suggest that the logistical issues may be too complex to resolve, even with plans to convert a baseball stadium in Nagoya into a cricket venue.
Effects On Market
The potential exclusion of cricket from the Asian Games 2026 could have negative ramifications for the sport’s expansion in non-traditional markets.
Alan Curr, head of operations at the Japan Cricket Association, stated, “It’s very important to get cricket into the 2026 Asian Games and put the game in front of people.”
The Asian Cricket Council, headed by Jay Shah, is said to be in talks with relevant authorities regarding this issue.
Shah has been a key factor in the successful bid for cricket’s inclusion in the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics, and is putting efforts to broaden the sport beyond its traditional strongholds in South Asia.
The previous edition of the Asian Games featured 15 men’s teams and nine women’s teams, demonstrating a growing interest in cricket across the continent.
Also Read: India vs. Bangladesh 2nd Test: Top 3 Highest Run-Scorers At Green Park Kanpur
Cricket was previously part of the Asian Games on three editions – 2010, 2014 and 2023. Both the Indian men’s cricket team and women’s team are the reigning champions and gold medalists from the 2023 Asian Games. While the matches in 2010 and 2014 were not deemed international games, the contests in the 2023 edition were granted international status by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
