India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams are set to compete at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, where cricket will feature for the fourth time in the multi-sport event. The Games are scheduled to be held from September 19 to October 4, with the cricket schedule now officially confirmed.
The women’s tournament will get underway on September 17, followed by the men’s competition on September 24. Played entirely in T20 format, every match will have full international status, offering players a valuable opportunity to earn official caps while representing India on one of Asia’s biggest sporting stages.
IND vs PAK possible only in semis or final
A blockbuster India-Pakistan contest at 2026 Asian Games can only materialise in the latter stages of the tournament, with the two sides capable of meeting only in either the semi-finals or the final.
India’s women’s team will open its campaign in the quarter-finals against Japan. If Harmanpreet Kaur and her teammates progress, they will face either Bangladesh or China in the semi-finals, with both teams placed in the same half of the draw.
In the other half, Sri Lanka will take on Malaysia in one quarter-final, while Pakistan will begin its campaign against Thailand. The winners of those matches will advance to the second semi-final, keeping alive the possibility of an India-Pakistan showdown only in the knockout rounds.
