Asian Games 2026 will be held in Japan's Aichi and Nagoya prefectures.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) are among cricket boards that have reportedly raised concerns about the pitch and accommodation standards at the upcoming 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya and Aichi, Japan.
Both men’s and women’s teams will compete in the cricket event at the Asian Games in Japan. The Korogi Sports Park, a baseball stadium converted for cricket in March 2026, will host cricket matches during the Asian Games. The site features a hybrid pitch square and can accommodate 2000 people in makeshift stands.
Notably, India won gold medals in both the men’s and women’s cricket events at the 2022 Asian Games, held in China.
The BCCI has announced a full-strength Indian team under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, with stars like Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Arshdeep Singh included.
However, several cricket boards have flagged concerns over the 'makeshift' cricket facility, which served as a baseball venue a few months ago.
At an ACC meeting, the PCB had first raised concerns. In the end, it was decided that members from the Asian Cricket Council would visit the location and examine the amenities, including the changing rooms.
“It is a very rudimentary ground, and there remains a question mark over the quality of the pitch. It has been laid very recently and, apart from one tournament, that too in May, has not been tested much. There are no proper dressing rooms as well,” a source said, as per the Indian Express report.
According to the article, after the meeting's feedback, the BCCI contacted the IOA and the Asian Games organizing committee. The Indian Cricket Board was advised by the IOA to "consult" the organizing committee.
The badminton, football, cricket, and softball players would be housed in Nagoya hotels, according to the Olympic Council of Asia. However, the accommodations, complete with their kit bags and luggage, are reportedly too small for two people to share.
“It is a genuine problem, since the rooms are very tiny. If one player opens a kit bag, there won’t be much space left to stand. We are trying to figure out a solution to this problem,” an official said, according to the report.
The Indian men's and women's cricket teams would depart for Nagoya on September 14 or 15, with the women's squad starting their campaign against Japan on September 17. Meanwhile, the men's team will play practice matches against two club teams before the competition begins on September 28th.