The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has announced the Asian Games 2026 cricket schedule for the men’s and women’s T20 competitions in Nagoya, Japan.
First, all matches will take place at Paloma Mizuho Stadium. Meanwhile, the women’s competition begins on September 17, while the men’s tournament starts on September 24. In total, the cricket events will run until October 3.
India enters the competition as the defending champion in both categories. In 2022, the Indian teams won gold at the Asian Games in Hangzhou. Therefore, India will again be among the teams expected to challenge for the top medals.
Pakistan Women Begin Against Thailand
Pakistan’s women will open their campaign against Thailand on September 17. According to the announced schedule, the match will begin at 10am Pakistan Standard Time (PKT).
Earlier that morning, Bangladesh will play China at 5am. Then, on September 18, Sri Lanka will meet Malaysia at 5am. India will also start its campaign that day, taking on Japan at 10am.
After those opening matches, the women’s semi-finals will be played on September 20. Two days later, the bronze-medal match will begin at 5am PKT. Later that morning, the final will start at 10am.
As a result, the women’s champion will be decided before the men’s tournament reaches its final stage.
Pakistan and India Enter Men’s Quarter-Finals
The men’s group stage will run from September 24 to 26. During that period, Afghanistan, Japan, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Oman and Nepal will compete for knockout-stage places.
By contrast, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have been seeded. Because of that seeding, the four teams will enter the tournament directly at the quarter-final stage.
Pakistan will play its quarter-final on September 28 at 5am PKT. At that point, the team will face the side that finishes second in Group B. Meanwhile, India will meet the Group A runners-up at 10am.
The following day, Sri Lanka will face the Group A winners at 5am. After that match, Bangladesh will take on the Group B winners at 10am.
Importantly, Pakistan and India are on opposite sides of the knockout draw. Consequently, the two Asian rivals cannot meet in either the quarter-finals or semi-finals.
Instead, their first possible meeting will come in a medal match. If both teams reach the required stage, they could face each other in the bronze-medal match or the gold-medal final on October 3.
Asian Games 2026 Men’s Cricket Schedule
September 24
- 5:00am — Afghanistan vs Japan
- 10:00am — Hong Kong vs Malaysia
September 25
- 5:00am — Hong Kong vs Oman
- 10:00am — Afghanistan vs Nepal
September 26
- 5:00am — Japan vs Nepal
- 10:00am — Malaysia vs Oman
September 28 — Quarter-finals
- 5:00am — Pakistan vs B2
- 10:00am — India vs A2
September 29 — Quarter-finals
- 5:00am — Sri Lanka vs A1
- 10:00am — Bangladesh vs B1
October 1 — Semi-finals
- 5:00am — Semi-final 1
- 10:00am — Semi-final 2
October 3
- 5:00am — Bronze-medal match
- 10:00am — Gold-medal final
Asian Games 2026 Women’s Cricket Schedule
September 17 — Quarter-finals
- 5:00am — Bangladesh vs China
- 10:00am — Pakistan vs Thailand
September 18
- 5:00am — Sri Lanka vs Malaysia
- 10:00am — India vs Japan
September 20 — Semi-finals
- 5:00am — Semi-final 1
- 10:00am — Semi-final 2
September 22
- 5:00am — Bronze-medal match
- 10:00am — Gold-medal final
With the schedule confirmed, teams can now prepare for their respective campaigns in Nagoya. For Pakistan, the women’s side will be the first team to take the field. A week later, the men’s team will begin its competition.
Furthermore, the tournament gives Pakistan and India another opportunity to compete for Asian Games medals. At the same time, their possible meeting could create one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.
Ultimately, the medal matches on October 3 will decide the men’s champions and bronze-medal winners. Until then, the group and knockout stages will determine which teams remain in contention.
