When did cricket make Asian Games debut? Brief history, list of past medal winners at Asiad

Cricket has increasingly found its place on the Asian Games schedule in recent years, with a rather short history of the sport’s participation at the continental multi-sport competition. 

In contrast to traditional Asian Games sports like athletics, hockey and wrestling, cricket was not on the list of disciplines since the inaugural Asian Games.

The inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games marked the beginning of a new era for cricket in Asia, as both men’s and women’s versions of cricket were added in the T20 format. 

However, the sport’s participation at the Asian Games has been rather sporadic, as the discipline participated in some Asian Games and didn’t participate in others.

With cricket included in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, The Sporting News takes a look at when cricket entered the Games and which countries have won medals in the sport.

Add The Sporting News as a preferred news source

When did cricket make its Asian Games debut?

Cricket made its first appearance at the Asian Games in 2010 at Guangzhou in China. The game was held in the T20 version, where both men’s and women’s tournaments were held.

In the men’s event, Bangladesh beat Afghanistan in the final and became the first Asian Games cricket winners. Bronze was won by Pakistan when they beat Sri Lanka in the third-place match. India did not take part in the men’s competition.

Pakistan won gold in the women’s event, while Bangladesh and Japan took silver and bronze respectively.

The introduction of cricket came about after the Olympic Council of Asia made a decision in 2007 to introduce it as a medal sport at the 2010 Games.

MORE: Did Indian football team qualify for Asian Games 2026?

Why was there no cricket at 2018 Asian Games?

Cricket featured at the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014 but was left out of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta and Palembang as the organisers were trying to cut back on costs as well as the total number of sports. The lack of appropriate cricket venues in Indonesia was also a factor.

The sport returned for the 2022 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, when the Games were actually held in September and October 2023 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The Hangzhou Games were significant for Indian cricket, as they won their first gold medals in the men’s and women’s events at the Asian Games.

List of cricket medal winners at Asian Games

Men’s cricket medal winners at Asian Games

YearHost venueGoldSilverBronze2010Guangzhou, ChinaBangladeshAfghanistanPakistan2014Incheon, South KoreaSri LankaAfghanistanBangladesh2022*Hangzhou, ChinaIndiaAfghanistanBangladesh

Women’s cricket medal winners at Asian Games

YearHost venueGoldSilverBronze2010Guangzhou, ChinaPakistanBangladeshJapan2014Incheon, South KoreaPakistanBangladeshSri Lanka2022*Hangzhou, ChinaIndiaSri LankaBangladesh

*The 2022 Asian Games were postponed and held in 2023.

MAKE YOUR BET WITH DAFABET AND GET UP TO 200% WELCOME BONUS

CLICK TO BET