Asian Games Cricket Schedule 2026: Complete Match List & Venues
The Asian Games Cricket Schedule 2026 is set to bring another major T20 tournament to Asian cricket fans as the continent’s leading teams compete for medals in Japan. The 20th Asian Games are being hosted in Aichi-Nagoya, with the overall Games running from September 19 to October 4, 2026.
For cricket fans, the men’s competition begins on September 24 and concludes with the medal matches on October 3, 2026. The tournament is being played in the T20 format, creating a compact schedule where every group-stage and knockout match can have a major impact.
India enter the tournament as the defending men’s champions and, along with Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, have been seeded directly into the quarter-finals.
For Cricbet99 readers following Asian cricket, this guide covers the complete men’s Asian Games cricket schedule 2026, groups, India fixtures, match timings and venue information.
Asian Games Cricket 2026 Overview
The 2026 Asian Games are taking place in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Cricket is included as a T20 discipline, with separate men’s and women’s medal competitions.
The men’s tournament features 10 teams.
Rather than putting all 10 teams into the same group phase, the tournament uses a preliminary stage followed by knockout cricket.
Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman begin in the preliminary groups. The top two teams from each group qualify for the quarter-finals, where India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are already seeded.
That structure means the preliminary matches are particularly important: only one team from each three-team group will be eliminated before the knockout stage.
Asian Games Men’s Cricket 2026 Groups
The six teams starting in the preliminary stage have been divided into two groups.
Group A
- Afghanistan
- Japan
- Nepal
Group B
- Hong Kong, China
- Malaysia
- Oman
The top two teams from Group A and Group B advance to the quarter-finals.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka do not participate in this preliminary group stage. They enter directly in the last eight.
Read More<<<Cricbet99 Secrets: Features That Make It Popular Among Cricket Fans
Asian Games Cricket Schedule 2026 β Complete Match List
Here is the men’s schedule with timings converted to Indian Standard Time (IST).
| Date | Match | Stage | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | Afghanistan vs Japan | Group A | 5:30 AM |
| September 24 | Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia | Group B | 10:30 AM |
| September 25 | Hong Kong, China vs Oman | Group B | 5:30 AM |
| September 25 | Afghanistan vs Nepal | Group A | 10:30 AM |
| September 26 | Japan vs Nepal | Group A | 5:30 AM |
| September 26 | Malaysia vs Oman | Group B | 10:30 AM |
| September 28 | Pakistan vs Group B Runner-up | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| September 28 | India vs Group A Runner-up | Quarter-final | 10:00 AM |
| September 29 | Sri Lanka vs Group A Winner | Quarter-final | 5:30 AM |
| September 29 | Bangladesh vs Group B Winner | Quarter-final | 10:00 AM |
| October 1 | Semi-final 1 | Semi-final | 5:30 AM |
| October 1 | Semi-final 2 | Semi-final | 10:00 AM |
| October 3 | Bronze Medal Match | Medal Match | 5:30 AM |
| October 3 | Gold Medal Match | Final | 10:00 AM |
The preliminary fixtures run from September 24 to 26, followed by a rest day before the quarter-finals begin on September 28. The semi-finals are scheduled for October 1, with both medal matches taking place on October 3.
Where Will Asian Games Cricket 2026 Be Played?
The men’s matches are scheduled at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, Japan.
This means the tournament follows a relatively concentrated venue setup rather than moving teams across several cricket grounds.
For players, that can make preparation more consistent because teams get repeated exposure to the same general playing environment. Conditions can still change from one match to another, however, so recent pitch behaviour and match-day conditions remain more useful than assumptions based on venue alone.
Read More<<<Beginnerβs Guide to Cricket Betting on Cricbet99
When Does India Play in Asian Games Cricket 2026?
Indian cricket fans will have to wait until the knockout stage to see the men’s team in action.
India’s first scheduled match is:
India vs Group A Runner-up
Date: September 28, 2026
Stage: Quarter-final
Time: 10:00 AM IST
Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
India’s opponent will therefore come from Afghanistan, Japan or Nepal, depending on the final Group A standings.
India received direct entry into the quarter-finals as one of the four seeded teams alongside Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
India’s Possible Route Through the Tournament
India’s Asian Games campaign begins with a quarter-final rather than the preliminary stage.
If India progress from their quarter-final on September 28, their next match will be a semi-final on October 1.
The medal matches then take place on October 3, with the bronze-medal contest followed later in the day by the gold-medal final.
This short knockout route also means there is little room for recovery from a poor performance. A single quarter-final defeat would end a team’s opportunity to progress to the semi-finals.
Why the Preliminary Round Matters
It would be easy to focus entirely on India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, but the preliminary round determines exactly how the quarter-final bracket develops.
Group A is especially relevant to Indian supporters because the second-placed Group A team will face India.
Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal therefore have more than group qualification at stake. Their final positions determine whether they move into the quarter-final against India or Sri Lanka.
Group B works similarly. Its runner-up meets Pakistan, while the group winner advances to play Bangladesh.
For anyone following the competition through Cricbet99, the September 24-26 fixtures provide the first clear picture of how the knockout stage will take shape.
Read More<<<Cricket 99 Jersey Number: The Story Behind the Iconic Number 99 | Cricbet99 Safe & Verified ICC Online Cricket ID 2026
Asian Games Cricket 2026 Format Explained
The format is relatively straightforward.
Six teams begin in two preliminary groups of three. Each team plays the other teams in its group, after which the top two from each group advance.
That produces four preliminary qualifiers.
Those four teams join the four seeded sides:
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Together, they form the eight-team quarter-final field.
The competition then becomes a direct knockout:
Quarter-finals β Semi-finals β Medal Matches
Every match is played in the T20 format.
The short format means momentum can change rapidly. One strong powerplay, a middle-order partnership or an effective bowling spell can have a major influence on a match.
Teams to Follow at the Asian Games 2026
India arrive as the defending men’s gold medallists from the previous Asian Games cricket competition.
Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are also seeded directly into the quarter-finals, giving all four established Asian sides a shorter route into medal contention.
The preliminary stage offers a different storyline.
Afghanistan are an established force in international T20 cricket, while Nepal’s growing cricket following makes their Group A matches worth watching. Host nation Japan also gets an opportunity to compete on home soil.
Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman make up Group B and will compete for its two available quarter-final positions.
What Should Cricket Fans Watch During the Tournament?
A schedule tells you when the matches happen, but following a T20 tournament becomes more interesting when you also understand what is happening within those matches.
Team combinations will be one important factor. Because T20 cricket moves quickly, sides need batting depth, powerplay options, effective death bowling and fielding quality.
Pitch behaviour will also become clearer as more matches are completed at the same venue.
Fans can watch areas such as:
- Powerplay run rate
- Early wickets
- Middle-over partnerships
- Spin versus pace performance
- Death-over economy
- Boundary percentage
- Dot-ball pressure
- Recent player form
- Team balance
- Toss and playing conditions
These factors provide useful context for understanding a match, although none can guarantee a particular result.
Following Asian Games Cricket Through Cricbet99
Users with a Cricbet99 ID may be able to follow available cricket markets and match information through their account where the relevant events are offered.
Existing members can complete their Cricbet99 Login to check currently available cricket sections, while eligible new users looking for a Cricket Online ID should understand the registration requirements before opening an account.
The Cricbet99 registration process may require account details and verification before supported services become available.
Whether following Asian Games cricket simply as a fan or viewing available Cricket Betting markets, users should confirm match details and current information rather than relying on an older fixture list.
Read this One<<<How CricBet99 Is Adapting to the Future of Online Cricket Betting
Asian Games Cricket and Live Match Markets
T20 cricket produces frequent changes in match situations. A team that starts strongly can lose several wickets quickly, while a lower-order partnership can alter a target within a few overs.
As a result, live cricket marketsβwhere legally availableβcan change throughout a match.
Runs, wickets, required run rate, overs remaining and partnerships can all affect displayed odds.
A Cricbet99 ID may provide access to supported pre-match or live cricket sections, subject to account eligibility and platform availability. Users should review the final odds, market rules and stake information before confirming any selection.
Betting should never be treated as a guaranteed way of making money.
Read More<<<How to Protect Your Online Cricket ID From Hackers & Account Theft
Why Asian Games Cricket 2026 Is Important for Fans
Cricket’s presence at Aichi-Nagoya gives Asian nations another opportunity to compete for medals outside the traditional bilateral-series and ICC-tournament structure.
It also gives developing cricket nations valuable exposure alongside some of Asia’s established teams.
The host nation Japan playing Afghanistan and Nepal in Group A is one of the tournament’s interesting early storylines, while India’s direct quarter-final entry will naturally attract considerable attention from Indian supporters.
The knockout format should also keep the final week straightforward: win and progress, lose and the route to gold ends.
Read More<<<Cricbet99 Live Betting vs Pre-Match Betting β Whatβs Better?
Key Dates to Remember
For Indian cricket followers, these are the main dates:
September 24, 2026: Men’s cricket begins
September 24-26: Preliminary group matches
September 28: Pakistan and India quarter-finals
September 29: Sri Lanka and Bangladesh quarter-finals
October 1: Men’s semi-finals
October 3: Bronze and gold medal matches
India’s opening quarter-final on September 28 at 10:00 AM IST is the key fixture for Indian fans.
Final Thoughts on Asia Games
The Asian Games Cricket Schedule 2026 gives fans a compact T20 competition featuring 10 men’s teams and a straightforward route from the preliminary groups to the medal matches.
Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Hong Kong China, Malaysia and Oman start the tournament on September 24, while India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka enter directly in the quarter-finals.
For India, the campaign begins on September 28 against the runner-up from Group A. From there, the semi-finals take place on October 1 before the gold and bronze medals are decided on October 3.
Cricbet99 users following the tournament can use their Cricbet99 Login to check available cricket information and supported markets. New users considering a Cricket Online ID should first review account eligibility, applicable local laws and platform terms.
Most importantly, enjoy the tournament as cricket. Match analysis, statistics and previous performances can add context, but they cannot guarantee future results.
