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The cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan is facing concerns over the readiness of its venue and accommodation ahead of the tournament. Participating boards, including Pakistan, have questioned the recently laid and relatively untested pitch at Korogi Sports Park, converted from a baseball field, along with limited dressing-room facilities and small hotel rooms. The Pakistan Cricket Board raised the issue at an Asian Cricket Council meeting, following which the BCCI also approached Indian Olympic Association and Asian Games organisers. India’s men’s and women’s teams are scheduled to enter from the quarter-final stage.
The cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan has come under scrutiny over concerns surrounding the playing surface, venue facilities and accommodation for participating teams, with the tournament only weeks away. The competition is scheduled to begin on September 17 in Nisshin, a city near Nagoya, ahead of the official opening of the Asian Games on September 19.
The main concern centres on Korogi Sports Park, a converted baseball venue that will host the cricket matches. The ground still retains features of its previous use, including a pitcher’s mound located just beyond the boundary. The venue is part of Japan’s effort to expand cricket’s presence in a country where baseball remains the dominant bat-and-ball sport.
According to reports, the playing surface at the venue was laid only recently and has had limited competitive use. Apart from one tournament in May, the pitch has not undergone extensive testing, raising questions among participating cricket boards about how it will perform during a major multi-team event. Teams have also flagged the absence of proper dressing-room facilities at the ground.
Accommodation has emerged as another issue. Reports indicate that some of the hotel rooms allocated to players are particularly small, with concerns that there may be insufficient space to store large cricket kit bags. The combination of an untested surface, basic venue infrastructure and limited accommodation has prompted participating boards to seek greater clarity from the organisers.
The Pakistan Cricket Board was reportedly the first to raise concerns during an Asian Cricket Council meeting earlier this month. The discussion subsequently involved representatives from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and other members. Following the concerns, the ACC decided to send representatives to inspect the cricket venue and player accommodation.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India subsequently approached the Indian Olympic Association and the Asian Games Organising Committee over the issues. The IOA advised the BCCI to take up technical concerns directly with the organising committee, as it does not have a role in the technical aspects of individual sports.
The concerns come as India prepares to defend its gold medals in both men’s and women’s cricket. India’s women, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, are scheduled to begin their campaign against hosts Japan, while the Shreyas Iyer-led men’s team will enter at the quarter-final stage on September 28. Both Indian teams are seeded and therefore bypass the preliminary rounds.
The women’s competition features eight teams and begins directly with the quarter-finals, while the men’s tournament has 10 teams, with six sides competing in a preliminary round before the knockout stage. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka are among the seeded men’s teams. The women’s final is scheduled for September 22, while the men’s final is set for October 3.
With leading international players expected to participate, the venue and accommodation issues have placed additional focus on the organisers’ preparations. The upcoming inspections are expected to provide participating boards with a clearer assessment of whether the facilities are ready for the demands of the Asian Games cricket tournament.
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