Cricket’s official retention for the 2026 Asian Games by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) confirms the sport’s rising prominence in the region. On April 28, the 41st AINAGOC Board of Directors met at Nagoya City Hall to make the announcement. The Asian Games 2026 will be held in Japan’s Aichi and Nagoya prefectures from September 19 to October 4, including 41 sports and attracting approximately 15,000 participants and officials from 45 National Olympic Committees.
Cricket, along with Mixed Martial Arts (MMA), was given formal approval to participate in the games. MMA will debut in the Combat Sports category with kurash and jujitsu. Cricket matches will be played in the T20 style at an Aichi location, and their inclusion in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics marks the sport’s first Olympic appearance since 1900.
South Asian countries typically dominate cricket at the Asian Games. In 2022, India won gold in both the men’s and women’s categories. Preparations continue with the 1st Technical Delegates Meeting and the 3rd OCA Coordination Committee Meeting on May 1, which will include talks on logistics, sponsorships, site inspections, and a joint press conference to wrap up the visit.
