Men’s Asian Games Cricket Opens in Japan With Two-Stage Route to Medals

The men’s cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games begins in Japan on 24 September with a group stage for six teams. The ten-team competition uses a different path from the women’s straight knockout event, which concluded on 22 September. Understanding that format explains why four leading sides will enter later and why the first three days still matter.

Afghanistan, host Japan and Nepal form Group A; Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman form Group B. The top two from each group advance. India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh receive first-round byes into the quarterfinals. Japan opens against Afghanistan, while Hong Kong faces Malaysia on the first day, according to the ICC schedule.

The seeded teams’ opponents are determined by those group results. India is scheduled to meet the Group A runner-up and Pakistan the Group B runner-up on 28 September. Sri Lanka then meets Group A’s winner and Bangladesh Group B’s winner on 29 September. Semifinals are scheduled for 1 October and medal matches for 3 October. No result or quarterfinal pairing beyond this structure should be assumed before the groups finish.

The tournament gives hosts Japan a rare opportunity to play in a major multi-sport event at home and gives associate teams a route into matches against higher-seeded opponents. India enters as defending men’s champion, but a bye is only a shorter route into the elimination stage. The opening games will decide which teams take those quarterfinal places, and a single knockout match thereafter can reshape the medal race.