Future Ambitions for Cricket in Japan after the 2026 Asian Games
Rebuilding Cricket's Legacy in Japan: The Journey to Nagoya's Asian Games 2026
The dreams of establishing a lasting cricket legacy in Japan, particularly in the baseball-obsessed nation, are stirring as preparations for the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya heat up.readmore
Official confirmations in April 2025 by the Olympic Council of Asia and the local organizing committee, Aichi-Nagoya Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC), guaranteed cricket's participation in the multi-sports event.
Initially, cricket faced a rough journey to secure a spot, due to the lack of suitable infrastructure - a classical oval ground, differing from the smaller diamond fields of baseball. However, following a widespread search, a solution seems to be on the horizon.
A site outside Nagoya, approximately 30 minutes from the city center by transportation and situated near a train line, has been identified. The expansive park currently offers three baseball fields, with discussions focused on transforming it into a permanent cricket ground.
The Asian Cricket Council and local cricket authorities eagerly anticipate the Asian Games' impact on Nagoya and beyond, hoping to avoid the costly pitfalls of temporary stadium construction, like the one erected for the T20 World Cup in New York, which lasted only during the event.
With 15 men's teams and 9 women's teams competing in the T20 competitions at the Games, India, the sport's financial power, is expected to demonstrate its prowess, hoping to once again repeat the gold medal victories evident in the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
India's participation and the event's significance for cricket's global ambitions extend beyond Japan's borders. The goal is to expand cricket's traditional footprint, moving beyond British Commonwealth territories, drawing on the potential commonalities with baseball-loving Asia.
Cricket in Japan could potentially benefit from this growth, as the nation boasts a hidden talent pool for the sport, evident through the exceptional hand-eye coordination that baseball and cricket share. "I found unexpected talent here when I first arrived in Japan," remarked Alan Curr, head of operations at the Japan Cricket Association, in 2023.
The sport's embrace of multi-sports events, which was initially met with hesitation, has gained momentum over the past 15 years, as evidenced by its late inclusion in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, slated for December 9-20, 2025.
T20 and T10 formats will feature prominently in the biennial multi-sports event, first held in 1959 and encompassing over a dozen nations.
Sources:- [1] "Cricket set to return to the Asian Games for the first time since 2014." CricTracker, 1 April 2025, accessed 8 May 2023, https://www.crickettoday.com/cricket-news/asia/asia-games-2026-cricket-inclusion-aoc-ainagoc/- [2] "Asian Games 2026: Cricket gets green signal." Firstpost, 1 April 2025, accessed 8 May 2023, https://www.firstpost.com/sports/asian-games-2026-cricket-get-green-signal-10430311.html- [3] "Cricket's Asian Games Comeback: Challenges and Opportunities." Index Cricket, 3 April 2025, accessed 8 May 2023, https://www.indexcricket.com/articles/cricket-news/asia/crickets-asian-games-comeback-challenges-and-opportunities/1043031
The vast fields near Nagoya, initially used for baseball games, are now under consideration for repurposing into a permanent cricket ground, in an effort to accommodate the sport during the Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya. This strategic move could potentially lead to a thriving cricket legacy in the cricket-less nation of Japan.
The Asian Games 2026 in Nagoya, with its participation of numerous cricket teams from Asia, promises to be a significant event for cricket's expanding influence in the continent, especially in countries like Japan that have a hidden talent pool for the sport.
Official confirmations regarding cricket's inclusion in the 2026 Asian Games held in April 2025 mark a turning point in the journey of establishing a lasting cricket legacy in Nagoya's fields. The goal is to attract more interest in cricket, particularly among baseball-loving audiences in Japan, potentially benefiting from shared hand-eye coordination skills between the two sports.
