The Asian Games cricket schedule 2026 is now confirmed for the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games in Japan. Cricket will be played in the T20 format, with both men’s and women’s competitions on the program. For Pakistan cricket fans, the men’s tournament is especially important. Pakistan will enter the men’s knockout stage directly.
The women’s team will begin its campaign in the quarter-finals against Thailand. The 2026 Asian Games will run from September 19 to October 4. However, the women’s cricket competition starts on September 17. The men’s cricket competition begins on September 24.
Asian Games Cricket Schedule 2026 at a Glance
The cricket competition will take place at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture. The venue has a natural grass cricket pitch designed for international competition.
Here are the key dates:
| Competition | Dates |
| Women’s cricket | September 17 to September 22 |
| Men’s preliminary matches | September 24 to September 26 |
| Men’s quarter-finals | September 28 to September 29 |
| Men’s semi-finals | October 1 |
| Men’s bronze medal match | October 3 |
| Men’s final | October 3 |
The men’s competition features 10 teams. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka receive direct places in the quarter-finals. Six other teams will compete in the preliminary group stage.
Men’s Asian Games Cricket Schedule 2026
The men’s tournament starts on September 24. Six teams will play the preliminary round.
The teams are divided into two groups.
Group A
- Afghanistan
- Japan
- Nepal
Group B
- Hong Kong, China
- Malaysia
- Oman
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka are seeded directly into the quarter-finals. The top two teams from each preliminary group will also reach the knockout stage.
Preliminary Round Fixtures
| Date | Match | Japan Time | Pakistan Time |
| September 24 | Afghanistan vs Japan | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| September 24 | Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM |
| September 25 | Hong Kong, China vs Oman | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| September 25 | Afghanistan vs Nepal | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM |
| September 26 | Japan vs Nepal | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| September 26 | Malaysia vs Oman | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM |
The Pakistan timings above are converted from the official Japan schedule. Japan Standard Time is four hours ahead of Pakistan Standard Time.
Pakistan Cricket Schedule at Asian Games 2026
Pakistan have a direct place in the men’s quarter-finals. This means they do not need to play in the preliminary group stage.
The Pakistan men’s team will face the second-placed team from Group B in the quarter-final. The match is scheduled for September 28 at 9:00 AM Japan time. That means it will start at 5:00 AM Pakistan time.
The possible opponent will come from Hong Kong, Malaysia, or Oman. The exact opponent will depend on the preliminary-round results.
Pakistan Men’s Quarter-Final
| Date | Match | Japan Time | Pakistan Time |
| September 28 | Pakistan vs Group B runner-up | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
This setup gives Pakistan an important advantage. The team enters the competition at the quarter-final stage. However, there is little room for error because every knockout match directly affects the medal race.
The Pakistan Cricket Board announced Sahibzada Farhan as captain of the men’s Asian Games squad. Abdul Samad was named vice-captain. The 15-member squad also includes players such as Saim Ayub, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed.
India Men’s Cricket Schedule 2026
India also receive a direct quarter-final place. India will play the second-placed team from Group A. The quarter-final is scheduled for September 28 at 1:30 PM Japan time.
For viewers in Pakistan, the match will start at 9:30 AM PKT.
| Date | Match | Pakistan Time |
| September 28 | India vs Group A runner-up | 9:30 AM |
The Group A runner-up will be either Afghanistan, Japan, or Nepal. Therefore, India’s opponent will only become clear after the preliminary matches finish.
India enter the tournament as the defending men’s champions. They won gold at the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou. India are also the defending women’s champions.
Men’s Quarter-Final Schedule
Four quarter-finals will decide the semi-finalists.
| Date | Match | Japan Time | Pakistan Time |
| September 28 | Pakistan vs Group B runner-up | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| September 28 | India vs Group A runner-up | 1:30 PM | 9:30 AM |
| September 29 | Sri Lanka vs Group A winner | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| September 29 | Bangladesh vs Group B winner | 1:30 PM | 9:30 AM |
This format makes the preliminary round important even for the seeded teams. The results decide which opponents they face in the knockout stage.
Asian Games Cricket Semi-Finals 2026
The men’s semi-finals will take place on October 1.
The winner of the Pakistan quarter-final will meet the winner of the Bangladesh quarter-final in one semi-final. The winner of the India quarter-final will meet the winner of the Sri Lanka quarter-final in the other semi-final.
| Date | Match | Japan Time | Pakistan Time |
| October 1 | Semi-final 1 | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| October 1 | Semi-final 2 | 1:30 PM | 9:30 AM |
This bracket could create major regional matchups. Pakistan and India can meet only if both teams progress through their respective sides of the knockout bracket.
Asian Games Cricket Final 2026
The men’s medal matches will be played on October 3. The bronze medal match will begin at 9:00 AM Japan time. The gold medal match will follow at 1:30 PM.
For Pakistan viewers, those matches will start at 5:00 AM and 9:30 AM, respectively.
| Date | Match | Japan Time | Pakistan Time |
| October 3 | Bronze medal match | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| October 3 | Gold medal match | 1:30 PM | 9:30 AM |
The final will decide the men’s Asian Games cricket gold medal winner.
Women’s Asian Games Cricket Schedule 2026
The women’s cricket tournament starts before the men’s competition. Eight teams are participating. The tournament uses a direct knockout format at the quarter-final stage.
Pakistan women will face Thailand on September 17 at 2:00 PM Japan time. This converts to 10:00 AM Pakistan time.
Women’s Quarter-Final Fixtures
| Date | Match | Pakistan Time |
| September 17 | Bangladesh vs China | 5:00 AM |
| September 17 | Pakistan vs Thailand | 10:00 AM |
| September 18 | Sri Lanka vs Malaysia | 5:00 AM |
| September 18 | India vs Japan | 10:00 AM |
The women’s semi-finals will be played on September 20. The bronze medal match and final are scheduled for September 22.
Women’s Semi-Finals and Final
| Date | Event | Japan Time | Pakistan Time |
| September 20 | Semi-final 1 | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| September 20 | Semi-final 2 | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM |
| September 22 | Bronze medal match | 9:00 AM | 5:00 AM |
| September 22 | Women’s final | 2:00 PM | 10:00 AM |
The women’s competition is shorter than the men’s event. Each match therefore carries significant importance.
Where Will Asian Games Cricket 2026 Be Played?
All cricket matches are scheduled at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture. The organisers developed a natural grass cricket pitch at the venue. It is designed to meet the requirements for international cricket. This is an important development for cricket in Japan.
The Asian Games will provide another opportunity to grow the sport outside its traditional Asian markets.
What Format Will Be Used?
Cricket at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will use the T20 format. Each side gets one innings of 20 overs. This format keeps matches short and makes cricket easier to include in a large multi-sport event. The Olympic Council of Asia confirmed men’s and women’s T20 cricket for the Games.
T20 cricket also increases the possibility of close matches. A few overs can change the result quickly. Strong bowling at the end of an innings can be just as important as a fast start with the bat.
Why the 2026 Cricket Schedule Matters for Pakistan
The schedule gives Pakistan a different path from most participating teams. Pakistan does not have to play the preliminary group stage. The team goes straight into the quarter-finals. That can be both an advantage and a challenge. Pakistan gets more preparation time before its first official match. However, the team will immediately face a knockout situation.
There is no second chance if Pakistan loses. The same applies to India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. For Pakistani fans, September 28 is therefore the most important men’s cricket date at the start of the tournament.
Key Dates for Pakistani Cricket Fans
Here are the dates worth saving:
- September 17: Pakistan women’s team plays Thailand.
- September 20: Women’s semi-finals.
- September 22: Women’s cricket medals are decided.
- September 24: Men’s preliminary matches begin.
- September 26: Men’s preliminary round ends.
- September 28: Pakistan men’s quarter-final.
- September 29: Remaining men’s quarter-finals.
- October 1: Men’s semi-finals.
- October 3: Men’s bronze medal match and final.
The official Aichi-Nagoya 2026 schedule confirms these dates and matchups.
Final Thoughts
The Asian Games cricket schedule 2026 offers a compact T20 tournament with several important matches for South Asian fans. Pakistan has a direct route to the men’s quarter-finals. India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have the same advantage. The preliminary round will determine the opponents waiting for these seeded teams. For Pakistan, the men’s quarter-final on September 28 will be the first major test.
The women’s team has an earlier challenge against Thailand. The biggest strength of this schedule is its simple knockout structure. Fans can easily follow the tournament from the quarter-finals onward.
The medal matches on October 3 will bring the men’s cricket competition to a close. By then, one team will have secured the Asian Games cricket gold medal.
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FAQs
Q. When does cricket start at the Asian Games 2026?
Women’s cricket starts on September 17. Men’s cricket starts on September 24.
Q. When will Pakistan play men’s cricket?
Pakistan’s men’s team will play its quarter-final on September 28.
Q. Who will Pakistan face in the men’s quarter-final?
Pakistan will face the second-placed team from Group B.
Q. Where will Asian Games cricket 2026 be played?
Cricket will be played at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.
Q. When is the Asian Games cricket final 2026?
The men’s cricket final is scheduled for October 3, 2026.