The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) said on September 10 that cricket teams competing at the Asian Games (ASIAD) 2026 will be accommodated in hotels, while athletes in many other sports will have to use cabins on cruise ships or temporary container rooms. The statement came amid growing concerns about the quality of lodging for sports delegations at the games, which will be held in Nagoya and Aichi Prefecture starting September 19 next year.
JCA Chief Executive Officer Naoki Alex Miyaji confirmed that organizers have worked with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) over a long period to discuss accommodation options for cricket teams. "Teams participating in cricket will be placed in hotels. Many other sports will have to stay in far more limited conditions, such as cruise ships or container hotels," Miyaji said.
Earlier, a Sri Lankan official said several top Asian teams had expressed doubts about the facilities and accommodation at the games. Without a dedicated athletes' village, organizers have relied on cruise ship cabins, wooden container rooms, and hotels. Last week, organizers admitted that accommodation had become strained as the number of participating athletes is expected to reach 17,000, significantly higher than the approximately 11,000 athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics.
Cricket is a minority sport in Japan. Matches will be held at Korogi Sports Park, a converted baseball field located 40 minutes by train from central Nagoya. According to local media, the area initially featured only tents for changing rooms and remote toilets.
Indian media reported that the country's cricket organizers were dissatisfied with the arrangements and might send a reserve squad instead of the main 15-player team led by Shreyas Iyer, which includes 15-year-old talent Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Miyaji said organizers "only had 17 months to prepare and had to start from scratch" for cricket at the games. "We have worked hard to ensure the best possible facilities within the time and conditions available. Although temporary, the structures will provide the most comfortable space possible for athletes and officials," he said.
Regarding the quality of the playing field, Miyaji said the pitch is being prepared by a curator from Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka, which has a capacity of 35,000, and will meet high standards. "From what I have seen, the pitch and playing area will be the best ever seen for cricket at the Asian Games," he stressed.
ASIAD 2026, the 20th edition of the games, will take place from September 19 to October 4 in Nagoya and the greater Aichi region, Japan.
