The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) is keen to host cricket at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and is considering the idea of repurposing a baseball field in Nagoya for that purpose. ing.
Cricket administrators believe that multiple sporting events, such as the Asian Games, will be an opportunity to boost the sport, which will return for the first time in 128 years at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The sport was featured at last year's Hangzhou Games in China, but it was far from a success as rain forced many of the men's and women's events to be canceled, and it was not included in the 2018 Games in Jakarta and Indonesia's Palembang.
“We are still working on our sports program for the 2026 Olympics and we want to include cricket as part of that,” said Randhir Singh, acting OCA president.
However, Japan's lack of cricket facilities remains an issue. There is also an international cricket stadium in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, but the OCA is prioritizing facilities in and around Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, where the Olympics will be held.
OCA deputy secretary-general Vinod Kumar Tiwari, who came to Japan last month with the OCA Coordination Committee to oversee preparations, said Tochigi Stadium is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Nagoya.
“We are working with the Cricket Council of Asia on this matter,” Tiwari said.
The program for the 2026 Congress will be finalized at the OCA General Assembly in April.
“It is great that cricket will be a part of the 2026 Olympics, and we at the JCA will provide all our support,” said Alex Naoki Miyaji, CEO of the Japan Cricket Association.
“It will leave a great legacy and will go a long way in promoting the game in this country.”
