Cricket will return to the Asian Games in 2026, with the men’s tournament scheduled from September 24 to October 3, 2026, in Aichi Prefecture, Japan. The competition will feature 10 teams and will be played in the Twenty20 format.
Defending champions India, along with Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, have received direct entry into the quarter-finals, while six other teams will compete in the preliminary round for the remaining four knockout places.
The men’s cricket competition will feature six preliminary-round matches, followed by four quarter-finals, two semi-finals and the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches. This article provides the complete confirmed schedule, participating teams, groups, format and India’s qualification path.
Men’s Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule
All matches are set to be played at the Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin and the full schedule is given below.
| Date | Match | Round |
|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Japan vs Afghanistan | Group A |
| September 24 | Malaysia vs Hong Kong China | Group B |
| September 25 | Nepal vs Afghanistan | Group A |
| September 25 | Oman vs Hong Kong China | Group B |
| September 26 | Nepal vs Japan | Group A |
| September 26 | Oman vs Malaysia | Group B |
| September 28 | Quarter-final 1 | Quarter-final |
| September 28 | Quarter-final 2 | Quarter-final |
| September 29 | Quarter-final 3 | Quarter-final |
| September 29 | Quarter-final 4 | Quarter-final |
| October 1 | Semi-final 1 | Semi-final |
| October 1 | Semi-final 2 | Semi-final |
| October 3 | Bronze-medal match | Medal match |
| October 3 | Gold-medal match / Final | Medal match |
Men’s Asian Games 2026 Teams & Groups
The six teams required to play the preliminary round have been divided into two groups of three. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the quarter-finals.
Group A
- Afghanistan
- Japan
- Nepal
Group B
- Hong Kong China
- Malaysia
- Oman
Teams Directly Qualified for the Quarter-finals
The four highest-seeded teams have been given direct entry into the quarter-finals:
- India
- Pakistan
- Bangladesh
- Sri Lanka
These four teams will be joined by the top two finishers from Group A and Group B.
Men’s Asian Games 2026 Cricket – Format
The tournament will be played in the T20 format and follows a compact preliminary-round and knockout structure.
The six unseeded teams first compete in two groups of three. Each team plays the other two sides in its group once, with the top two teams from each group advancing to the quarter-finals.
The four qualifying teams then join India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the last eight. The quarter-final winners progress to the semi-finals, while the losing semi-finalists will play for the bronze medal. The two semi-final winners will meet in the gold-medal match on October 3.
India’s Schedule and Qualification Path
India will begin their title defence directly in the quarter-finals. The defending champions are scheduled to play their first match on September 28, against a team progressing from the preliminary stage.
According to the published schedule details, India are set to face the second-placed team from Group A in Quarter-final 2. If India win, they will advance to the semi-finals on October 1. A victory there would send them into the gold-medal match on October 3, while a defeat would mean competing for the bronze medal on the same day.
Men’s Asian Games 2026 Cricket – Venue
The men’s cricket competition is scheduled to be held at Kōrogi Athletic Park in Aichi Prefecture, Japan, as part of the wider Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games. The venue will host the complete cricket programme, with the men’s tournament following the women’s competition.
- September 24: Men’s tournament begins
- September 24-26: Preliminary round
- September 28-29: Quarter-finals
- October 1: Semi-finals
- October 3: Bronze-medal match and gold-medal match
Conclusion: Road to the Asian Games Gold Medal!
The Men’s Asian Games 2026 cricket tournament promises a short but highly competitive battle for the medals. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka start with the advantage of direct quarter-final qualification, while the other six teams must first fight through the preliminary round.
With every match carrying knockout importance after September 26, the competition will quickly build towards the semi-finals and the gold-medal match on October 3.
