Why cricket fans are already talking about the 2026 Asian Games

Why cricket fans are already talking about the 2026 Asian Games originally appeared on Cricket News.
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With squads beginning to be announced and the schedule revealed, anticipation is starting to build towards the 2026 Asian Games in September. And cricket fans are right to be excited….

There is something just a little bit different about cricket at the Asian Games.

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Unlike Cricket World Cups, where each headline, broadcast and conversation is inevitably focused on the sport itself, the Asian Games place cricket within “just another sporting bracket”, making it one of 41 sports that the tournament covers.

For that week and a bit of September 24 to October 3, cricket will share a stage with several other disciplines, many, many athletes, and an entire continent competing for a gold medal.

One moment fans are watching Harmanpreet Kaur leading India on the cricket field — smashing fours and sixes — and the next, Japan’s star Tomokazu Harimoto smashing balls on the table tennis court, or China’s Zhang Yufei chasing another gold in swimming.

Athletics, volleyball, boxing, swimming, badminton, gymnastics and a multitude of other sports are unfolding at the Asian Games simultaneously, which creates an atmosphere that is unlike any other tournament where cricket is played.

MORE: India men’s squad for Asian Games 2026: Full players list for defending gold medalists ft. Vaibhav Sooryavanshi | Confirmed India women’s squad

In a very Olympic-esque manner, cricket has to earn its place as just one of the many other sports being played in Asia’s largest sporting event.

After having spent years away from the Asian Games, cricket returned to it in 2010 in Guangzhou, China. And since then, India has predictably become established as one of the countries to watch out for.

The country’s biggest wins were at the 2022 Asian Games, where the men’s and women’s teams from India won golds, making India the first nation to secure the double in one single edition.

However, maintaining those accolades this year may not be as easy for India. Unlike the usual cricketing tournaments, the Asian Games competition is far from simple.

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Cricket at 2026 Asian Games: Format and likely contenders

The highest-ranked T20 teams at the Asian Games 2026 will receive direct entry into the knockout stages, which means there is little to no room for error.

This year, Japan have qualified for both men’s and women’s events as hosts, and will be represented alongside the following teams:

Men’s tournamentWomen’s tournamentJapan (hosts)Japan (hosts)AfghanistanBangladeshBangladeshChinaHong KongIndiaIndiaMalaysiaMalaysiaPakistanNepalSri LankaOmanThailandPakistanSri Lanka

The lowest-ranked teams will compete in a preliminary round in a straight knockout format, before teams advance to the quarter-finals, semi-finals and final.

Given the format, a team’s campaign can easily be cut short by one off day or one poor performance.

MORE:Asian Games 2026 cricket men’s and women’s schedule, dates, groups, venue and format

Each contender within the Asian Games brings with them their own strengths.

Pakistan has game changing white-ball cricketers, Sri Lanka combines experience with emerging talent, and Bangladesh continues to challenge the top teams of each region.

With the format of this game, every contender is dangerous, which means that the execution on the day of play is of utmost importance.

Cricket’s path to LA 2028 Olympic Games

However, the significance of the Asian Games at Aichi-Nagoya 2026 extends beyond just the medals. The Games are the final major multi-sport event before cricket makes its comeback at the LA 2028 Olympics.

That will be a monumental moment, since it marks the sport’s first Olympic appearance since 1900, welcoming a completely new chapter in cricket’s story.

For cricket then, September’s Asian Games is not just a multisport tournament. It is, in fact, the wheels of the sport’s Olympic future in motion.

The countdown has begun…

Who are you excited to see in cricket action at the 2026 Asian Games? For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages or you can read more of Arya Shah’s thoughts here.