Japan will convert a baseball stadium to a cricket venue for the 2026 Nagoya Asian Games. Cricket at the next Asiad was initially scheduled to be played in Tochigi, north of Tokyo. But the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has ruled that out citing logistical issues.
Cricket, in its T20 form, is gradually gaining popularity outside the Commonwealth countries. It has been included in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games. It featured at the Hangzhou Asian Games as well, where India won the gold medal. The Nagoya Asian Games organisers are said to be keen to have cricket as part of the roster.
“The only problem with the stadium (in Tochigi) which JCA (Japan Cricket Association) had offered is the distance,” OCA Deputy Director General Vinod Kumar Tiwari told Reuters. “Also, if you’re hosting an international tournament, you need enough hotels around, which are not there at the moment. That’s why we are not considering it.”
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As a solution, the Asian Games organising committee has come up with the idea to repurpose a baseball stadium in Nagoya to a cricket venue. “That looks much more feasible,” said Tiwari.
The OCA and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) officials will inspect the venue later this month. Cricket’s inclusion at the Hangzhou Asiad proved to be a success. The Nagoya Asian Games organisers expect that it will strike a chord with the Japanese as well.