Top News

Delhi: There are only a few weeks left for the Asian Games 2026 to start, but such a picture has emerged regarding the preparations for cricket before this big tournament to be held in Nagoya, Japan, which has increased the concern of many big cricket boards including India and Pakistan. Questions are being raised not only about the pitch of the field, but also about the dressing room and hotel accommodation arrangements of the players. According to reports, cricket in the Asian Games will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin. Till a few months ago, this place was used as a baseball facility and in March 2026, it was prepared for cricket. Temporary stands with a capacity of about 2,000 spectators have been installed here. The biggest concern is over the new hybrid pitch, which has not been tested much apart from the ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in May. Not only this, a baseball pitcher's mound is still present on the field and it has come to light that there is no proper dressing room arrangement for the players.

The accommodation arrangements of the players after the cricket venue have also increased the concern of the boards. This time there is no traditional athletes' village, so the players will be accommodated in different hotels in Nagoya, about 20 kilometers from the field. Accommodation for the approximately 15,000 participants is divided into luxury cruise liners, Games Villages and hotels. But the biggest concern of the officials is about the small size of the hotel rooms. According to an official, the room for two players is so small that if one opens his kitbag, there will be no room left even to stand. Many big male and female cricketers from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Afghanistan will play cricket in Japan for the first time. In such a situation, Pakistan Cricket Board first raised this issue in the ACC meeting. After this, other member countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Afghanistan decided that ACC would send its representatives to inspect the entire condition of the venue and the accommodation of the players. After this feedback, BCCI has also placed this matter before the Indian Olympic Association and the Asian Games Organizing Committee. However, an Indian Olympic Association official clarified that it has no role in technical matters and BCCI has been asked to take advice from the organizing committee.

The cricket tournament at the Asian Games will begin on September 17, while the opening ceremony will be held on September 19. Indian teams can reach Japan on 14 or 15 September. The Indian women's team's match is scheduled for September 17, while the men's team's match is scheduled for September 28. That is, on one hand, the Indian team, adorned with big names like Jasprit Bumrah and Vaibhav Suryavanshi, under the captaincy of Shreyas Iyer, is preparing to take the field, while on the other hand, concerns to the pitch, dressing rooms and small hotel rooms have raised a big question even before the start of the tournament. Now the most important thing will be how these concerns to players' facilities and cricket venues are addressed before the start of the Asian Games.