The line-up for the 2026 Asian Games Men’s Cricket Tournament is set. Nepal, Hong Kong, Malaysia, and Oman have qualified and will join India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and hosts Japan in the 10-team event, scheduled for September-October in Japan.
Nepal Leads Group A
Nepal was placed in Group A of the ongoing Asian Games Men’s Qualifiers with Malaysia and China (after Qatar withdrew). They showcased strong performances:
- Against China, they scored 313/2 in 20 overs, dismissing their opponents for just 92, winning by 221 runs.
- In their second match, Nepal set a score of 275/7 and restricted Malaysia to 108/9, winning by 167 runs.
Nepal finished at the top of Group A with four points and an impressive net run rate of 9.700, highlighting their strength.
Malaysia Takes Second Place
Malaysia secured their spot by beating China in a low-scoring game. They successfully chased down a target of 85, winning by nine wickets.
Hong Kong and Oman Move Forward from Group B
In Group B, Hong Kong and Oman won their matches against Bahrain and Singapore, respectively, finishing in the top two and ensuring their places in Japan.
The semifinals of the Asian Games Men’s Qualifier 2026 are scheduled for June 7. The third-place play-off will take place on June 8, along with the final match of the tournament.
India Aims to Defend Gold
India will enter the tournament as the defending champions. At the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou, India received the gold medal after their final against Afghanistan was washed out, resulting in India being declared winners as the higher-seeded team.
India’s challenge now will be to defend their title on Japanese soil and continue their dominance in continental cricket.