Cricket returns to the Asian Games for its fourth appearance this year, with both men’s and women’s T20 tournaments set for Aichi, Japan. The Asian Games cricket 2026 schedule runs across more than two weeks, with the women’s competition finishing well before the men’s tournament even begins — so if you’re planning to follow either through your Online Cricket ID, here’s exactly when each phase happens.
Women’s Tournament: September 17–22
The women’s cricket competition gets underway first, running from September 17 with medal matches decided on September 22. Eight teams compete in a direct knockout format starting from the quarter-finals, meaning the tournament moves quickly once it begins — there’s no extended group stage to work through before the stakes get high.
Men’s Tournament: September 24–October 3
The men’s competition follows a longer format. Ten nations take part, with matches held at Krogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture, running from September 24 through the medal matches on October 3.
How the Men’s Format Actually Works
● Seeding is based on the ICC Men’s T20I Team Rankings as of July 23, 2026, with the official draw held the same day.
● Preliminary stage (Sept 24–26): the six lowest-seeded teams are split into two groups of three, playing a single round-robin.
● Quarter-finals: the top two teams from each preliminary group advance, joining the four highest-seeded teams, who receive automatic byes straight into this stage.
● Knockouts: the tournament proceeds through quarter-finals to the medal matches on October 3.
A Quick Note on Cricket’s History at the Games
This isn’t cricket’s first appearance at the Asian Games, despite how it’s sometimes described. The sport debuted at Guangzhou 2010, returned at Incheon 2014, and came back again at Hangzhou 2023 — where all matches were officially recognised as internationals by the ICC for the first time. 2026 marks cricket’s fourth Asian Games appearance, not its first, and India go in as defending champions in both the men’s and women’s events after winning gold in both categories at Hangzhou.
Following Both Tournaments From One Account
Since the women’s tournament wraps up before the men’s competition even begins, following both through a single cricket ID provider means there’s no real overlap to juggle — you can follow the women’s knockout rounds in full during the third week of September, then shift attention to the men’s preliminary stage once it opens on September 24, all under the same account.
The Bottom Line
Two tournaments, two different formats, running back to back rather than overlapping. The women’s event moves fast — straight knockouts from the quarter-finals in under a week. The men’s event takes the longer route, with a preliminary round-robin phase feeding into the knockout bracket over roughly ten days. Both are worth marking on the calendar separately, since they don’t run at the same time.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the women’s Asian Games cricket tournament start?
The women’s tournament runs from September 17 to September 22, 2026, with a direct knockout format starting from the quarter-finals.
When does the men’s tournament start?
The men’s tournament runs from September 24 to October 3, 2026, at K■rogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.
Is this cricket’s first time at the Asian Games?
No. This is cricket’s fourth appearance, following Guangzhou 2010, Incheon 2014, and Hangzhou 2023.
Is India the defending champion?
Yes, in both categories. India won gold in both the men’s and women’s cricket events at Hangzhou 2023.
How many teams are competing?
Ten teams in the men’s tournament and eight teams in the women’s tournament.
This article is for informational purposes only. Schedule and format details are accurate as of publication and subject to change by the organising committee.