Cricket to be considered for 2026 Asian Games in Japan

The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) wants to add cricket to the 2026 Asian Games in Japan and is considering repurposing a baseball stadium in Nagoya for this purpose.

Cricket administrators see multiple sporting events such as the Asian Games as an opportunity to reinvigorate cricket, which is set to return at the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 after 128 years. Cricket participated in the Hangzhou Games in China last year, but did not participate in the 2018 tournament held in Jakarta and Palembang, Indonesia.

“We are still working on our sports program for the 2026 Olympics and we would like to include cricket as part of that,” OCA acting president Randhir Singh told Reuters. However, Japan's lack of cricket facilities remains an issue.

The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) has proposed an international stadium in Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, but OCA wants a facility in or near Nagoya, the capital of Aichi Prefecture, where the tournament will be held. That's what it means. Tochigi Stadium is a three-and-a-half hour drive from Nagoya, said Vinod Kumar Tiwari, deputy director of OCA, who came to Japan last month with an OCA coordinating delegation to monitor preparations.

“We are working with the Cricket Council of Asia on this matter,” Tiwari said. The program for the 2026 Congress is expected to be finalized at his OCA general meeting in April.