Cricketers to get best rooms at Asian Games, says Japan chief

admin — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 17:50:00 +0000

Image used for representation
| Photo Credit: Getty Images/iStockphotos

Cricketers at this month’s Asian Games in Japan will have better accommodation than athletes from many other sports, the head of Japanese cricket said on Wednesday (September 2, 2026), after concerns were raised about a lack of five-star hotels for players.

A Sri Lankan official said this week that some of Asia’s top teams had raised doubts over facilities and accommodation at the Games, which are taking place in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area from September 19.

Cricket is a minor sport in Japan and games will be played at a new purpose-built ground with reports of tents serving as dressing rooms and distant washroom facilities.

There is no dedicated athletes’ village at the Games, with organisers instead relying on cabins in a cruise ship, rooms in temporary wooden containers and hotels.

Organisers said last week that accommodation was already stretched to the limit after the number of Asian Games athletes ballooned to 17,000.

By comparison there were around 11,000 at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

The cricket tournament is being run by the Asian Games organising committee in collaboration with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).

Naoki Alex Miyaji, the CEO of the Japan Cricket Association, told AFP that the two bodies had been discussing accommodation options “for a long time”.

“The participating teams in cricket are being offered hotel accommodation,” Miyaji said on Wednesday.

“Many other sports are being accommodated in much more limited facilities such as a cruise ship or container hotels.”

Matches will be played at Korogi Sports Park, a converted baseball field that is a 40-minute train ride away from central Nagoya.

Media reports in India said the country’s cricket board was unhappy with arrangements and might send a second-string squad after originally naming 15 players led by Shreyas Iyer and including 15-year-old rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

Miyaji said that Japanese organisers “only had 17 months to prepare and had to start from scratch” for cricket at the Games.

He said they had been working “to ensure that the best facilities are provided within the limited timeline and facility restrictions”.

“Despite being temporary, the facilities will provide as comfortable a space as possible for the players and officials,” he said.

Miyaji said the pitch, which is being prepared by the curator of the 35,000-capacity Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka, would be of a high standard.

“From what I have seen, the playing surface and field will be the best seen in cricket’s inclusion in the Asian Games,” he added.

Published – September 03, 2026 01:00 am IST

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Hangzhou Asian Games | Vastrakar’s four-wicket burst helps India skittle out Bangladesh in semifinal

admin — Sun, 24 Sep 2023 14:01:31 +0000

Shafali Verma plays a shot during the women’s cricket quarterfinal match between India and Malaysia at the 19th Asian Games.
| Photo Credit: PTI

The pacers scripted an eight-wicket victory for the Indian women’s team over Bangladesh in the semifinal on Sunday, assuring a silver medal at its maiden Asian Games.

When these two teams had battled it out in a low-scoring series in the sub-continent a couple of months ago, there was plenty of bite, tension and spin, which had plenty of say in the outcome. But here at the Zheijang University’s Pingeng Campus Cricket Field, Bangladesh was shot out for a paltry 51, which India chased down inside nine overs, just as spin was starting to take effect. Shafali Verma was bowled by Fahima Khatun, but India needed just 12 more runs, with Jemimah Rodrigues’ (20 not out) seeing the chase through.

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The Indian Women’s Cricket Team dismantle Bangladesh to claim a spot in the final of the #AsianGames

| Here’s the winning moment from a dominating performance from the Women in Blue #SonySportsNetwork #Cheer4India #TeamIndia #IssBaar100Paar pic.twitter.com/TzrBeFew17

— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 24, 2023

With the floodlights taking effect before 9 a.m. on a chilly morning, Bangladesh skipper Nigar Sultana opted to bat. While India had the pace to trouble Bangladesh in helpful bowling conditions, the Bangladesh batters didn’t help themselves with their decision-making.

Shathi Rani flashed at an out-swinging delivery from Pooja Vastrakar on ball one but could only find a thick outside edge and into the gloves of Richa Ghosh. Her partner Shamima Sultana, though, could consider herself unlucky when the umpire adjudged her leg-before when she was struck outside the line by a Vastrakar in-swinger. There is no decision review system (DRS) in place. The opening pair was among five batters who fell for no score.

Sobhana Mistry got a reprieve from Smriti Mandhana at mid-off but she offered the Indian captain another chance by looking to go over the infield off Vastrakar, where Mandhana didn’t err. India’s ground-fielding was excellent but was poor with its catching after drops from Mandhana, Devika Vaidya and a difficult chance for Richa.

The Indian pacers, Vastrakar and 18-year-old debutant Titas Sadhu, put the ball in the right areas and moved the ball both ways. Titas, who got her cap from Mandhana, picked her first international wicket with an inswinging yorker to rattle the stumps of Shorna Akter for a five-ball duck.

Only Sultana managed to get into doubles figures before she took off for a risky single but was caught short by a direct- hit from Devika. Two balls later, Bangladesh was six down inside the eighth over. Khatun was run out at the striker’s end having responded to Ritu Moni’s call after dabbing it to Kanika Ahuja at short third.

After the drinks break, Amonjot Kaur castled Rabeya Khan with an inswinging yorker and Vastrakar returned for her fourth wicket by knocking Ritu’s top of leg stump. Indian spinners Rajeswari Gayakwad and Devika cleaned up the tail after Bangladesh dragged itself over the fifty-run mark.

India will take on Sri Lanka, which beat Pakistan in the other semifinal.

The scores: Bangladesh 51 in 17.5 overs (Pooja Vastrakar 4/17) lost to India 52/2 in 8.2 overs.

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Cricketers to get best rooms at Asian Games, says Japan chief

Hangzhou Asian Games | Vastrakar’s four-wicket burst helps India skittle out Bangladesh in semifinal