Asian Games 2026 Cricket Schedule
The Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule is finally out, and Indian cricket fans now know when Team India will begin its campaign in Nagoya. The Asian Cricket Council announced the complete schedule on September 7, with the women’s tournament set to begin first, followed by the men’s competition.
Cricket matches at the Asian Games 2026 will be played from September 17 to October 3 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. The women’s competition will run from September 17 to September 22, while the men’s tournament will take place from September 24 to October 3.
India enters the Asian Games as the defending champion in both the women’s and men’s cricket events. Cricket made its Asian Games return in 2022, and India won gold medals in both competitions. Naturally, expectations will be high again.
India Women to Face Japan in Quarter-Final
The Indian women’s cricket team will begin its Asian Games 2026 campaign directly in the quarter-finals. India’s first match is scheduled for September 18 at 2 PM, with Japan standing between the defending champions and a place in the semi-finals.
The women’s tournament will feature four quarter-final matches spread across September 17 and 18.
Bangladesh will face China in the opening quarter-final on September 17, while Pakistan will take on Thailand later the same day. Sri Lanka will meet Malaysia on September 18 before India face hosts Japan.
The semi-finals will be played on September 20, followed by the bronze-medal and gold-medal matches on September 22.
Asian Games 2026 Women’s Cricket Schedule
| Date | Time | Stage | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 17 | 9:00 AM | Quarter-final | Bangladesh vs China |
| September 17 | 2:00 PM | Quarter-final | Pakistan vs Thailand |
| September 18 | 9:00 AM | Quarter-final | Sri Lanka vs Malaysia |
| September 18 | 2:00 PM | Quarter-final | India vs Japan |
| September 20 | 9:00 AM | Semi-final | Semi-final 1 |
| September 20 | 2:00 PM | Semi-final | Semi-final 2 |
| September 22 | 9:00 AM | Bronze Medal Match | Bronze Medal Match |
| September 22 | 2:00 PM | Gold Medal Match | Final |
For India, the Japan quarter-final will be the first major hurdle. A win would put the defending champions into the semi-final, where the competition is expected to become considerably tougher.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Schedule
The men’s cricket tournament will begin on September 24, with the group stage taking centre stage during the opening three days.
Six teams have been divided into two groups of three. Afghanistan, Nepal and Japan are in Group A, while Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Oman form Group B.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have been given direct entry into the quarter-finals. This means the four top-ranked sides will not have to go through the group stage.
The group-stage teams will battle for the remaining four quarter-final spots.
How the Men’s Qualification Works
The top two teams from Group A will be labelled A1 and A2, while the top two teams from Group B will be B1 and B2.
India will play A2 in the quarter-final on September 28 at 2 PM.
That means Indian fans will have to wait until September 28 to see the men’s team in action. The identity of India’s opponent will only become clear after the Group A matches are completed.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will face B2 in the other quarter-final on the same day.
The remaining quarter-finals will be played on September 29, with Sri Lanka facing A1 and Bangladesh taking on B1.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Full Schedule
| Date | Time | Stage | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| September 24 | 9:00 AM | Group Stage | Afghanistan vs Japan |
| September 24 | 2:00 PM | Group Stage | Hong Kong, China vs Malaysia |
| September 25 | 9:00 AM | Group Stage | Hong Kong, China vs Oman |
| September 25 | 2:00 PM | Group Stage | Afghanistan vs Nepal |
| September 26 | 9:00 AM | Group Stage | Japan vs Nepal |
| September 26 | 2:00 PM | Group Stage | Malaysia vs Oman |
| September 28 | 9:00 AM | Quarter-final | Pakistan vs B2 |
| September 28 | 2:00 PM | Quarter-final | India vs A2 |
| September 29 | 9:00 AM | Quarter-final | Sri Lanka vs A1 |
| September 29 | 2:00 PM | Quarter-final | Bangladesh vs B1 |
| October 1 | 9:00 AM | Semi-final | Semi-final 1 |
| October 1 | 2:00 PM | Semi-final | Semi-final 2 |
| October 3 | 9:00 AM | Bronze Medal Match | Bronze Medal Match |
| October 3 | 2:00 PM | Gold Medal Match | Final |
India’s Asian Games Gold Medal Defence Begins in Nagoya
India will enter the 2026 Asian Games cricket competition with a target that is pretty simple: win gold again.
The Indian women’s team will get its opportunity first, beginning its campaign against Japan on September 18. The men’s side will then enter the tournament on September 28 against the second-placed team from Group A.
The schedule also creates an interesting situation for the men’s competition. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are all seeded directly into the quarter-finals, meaning there could be some blockbuster encounters once the knockout stage begins.
For the Indian men’s team, everything will depend on which team finishes second in Group A. Afghanistan, Nepal and Japan will fight for the two qualifying spots, with their performances in the group stage determining India’s opponent.
When Are the Asian Games 2026 Cricket Finals?
The women’s cricket final will be played on September 22 at 2 PM, while the men’s gold-medal match is scheduled for October 3 at 2 PM.
The bronze-medal matches will take place on the same days in the morning. So, if everything goes according to India’s plans, fans could potentially have two gold-medal celebrations to look forward to.
The women’s competition will be completed in just six days, while the men’s tournament will stretch across ten days, including the group stage and knockout rounds.
India’s Road to Gold
For the women’s team, the road starts with Japan. If India wins the quarter-final, it will advance to the September 20 semi-final. Victory there would take the team into the gold-medal match on September 22.
The men’s route is slightly different. India will enter directly at the quarter-final stage and face the second-ranked team from Group A. A win would send India into the October 1 semi-finals, followed by the medal matches on October 3.
There is therefore very little room for error once the knockout stage begins.
Why Asian Games 2026 Cricket Will Be Important
The Asian Games provide another major international platform for cricket, particularly as the sport continues to expand beyond its traditional strongholds.
For India, the tournament is also an opportunity to maintain its dominance after winning gold in both the women’s and men’s competitions at the 2022 Asian Games.
With the complete schedule now announced, the countdown to Nagoya has officially begun.
Indian fans already have two dates circled on their calendars: September 18 for the women’s quarter-final and September 28 for the men’s quarter-final.
And if both teams manage to navigate their respective knockout brackets, the real prize will arrive later — gold medals on September 22 and October 3.
For Team India, the mission is clear. Defend the gold, handle the pressure and bring the medals home once again.
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