Updated Schedule for Men's Cricket at Asian Games 2026

The men's cricket schedule for the Asian Games 2026 has undergone significant changes, particularly affecting the Indian team's quarter-final match. The start time has been moved to 1:30 PM Japan local time, impacting viewers in India. Other knockout matches, including semi-finals and finals, have also seen timing adjustments. However, preliminary round matches and the women's cricket schedule remain unchanged. This article provides detailed insights into the revised schedule and the reasons behind these changes, ensuring fans stay informed ahead of the tournament.

By Narendra Chaudhary Sep 13, 2026, 18:41 IST

Changes to Men's Cricket Match Timings

Significant alterations have been made to the men's cricket schedule for the upcoming Asian Games 2026. The start times for several key knockout matches have been adjusted. Under the revised timetable, certain matches will now commence at 1:30 PM local time in Japan, shifting from the previously scheduled 2:00 PM. This adjustment particularly impacts the quarter-final match for the Indian team. Notably, the women's cricket schedule remains unchanged.

Quarter-Final Match Details

The Indian men's cricket team is set to enter the tournament directly at the quarter-final stage. This match is slated for September 28 and will now kick off at 1:30 PM Japan local time. Given that Japan is 3.5 hours ahead of India, the match will start at 10:00 AM for Indian viewers. Meanwhile, morning matches will proceed as originally planned, beginning at 9:00 AM Japan time, which corresponds to 5:30 AM in India.

Revised Timings for Semi-Finals and Finals

In addition to the quarter-finals, the timings for other knockout matches have also been modified. The second semi-final, expected to feature the Indian team, will now start at 1:30 PM Japan time on October 1. Following this, the gold medal match on October 3 will also commence at 1:30 PM Japan time. However, the first quarter-final involving Pakistan, the initial semi-final, and the bronze medal match will retain their original start time of 9:00 AM in Japan.

Reason Behind the Timing Adjustments

Reports indicate that the early onset of darkness in Japan's evenings prompted these changes. The cricket venue lacks floodlights, and since men's matches can extend for long durations, organizers opted to advance the start times by half an hour for safety. Interestingly, it appears that not all relevant parties have been informed of these changes. Officials from the Indian Olympic Association have stated they have not received any formal notification regarding this adjustment, while the official Asian Games website has already reflected the updated schedule.

Preliminary Round Matches Remain Unchanged

The schedule for preliminary round matches, which will include teams such as Afghanistan, Japan, Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Oman, will remain as initially planned. The women's cricket schedule is also unaffected, with their competition commencing directly from the quarter-finals at the original times of 9:00 AM and 2:00 PM Japan time.

Clarification on India-Japan T20 Match

It is important to note that the T20 International match between India and Japan on September 22 is a separate event and not part of the Asian Games cricket schedule. This match will take place at the Sano International Stadium, starting at 1:00 PM Japan local time (9:30 AM in India). The Asian Games 2026 will be hosted in the Aichi-Nagoya region of Japan from September 19 to October 4.

India's Men's Cricket Team for the Asian Games

The Indian men's cricket squad for the Asian Games includes: Shreyas Iyer (Captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (Wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (Wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (Vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Suryavanshi, and Yash Thakur.