Asian Games 2026: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) held its Annual General Meeting today in Dhaka, Bangladesh, with representatives from all member countries taking part, either in person or virtually. The meeting was led by the new ACC President, Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board.
Cricket Confirmed for Asian Games 2026 in Japan
There were earlier concerns that the meeting might not even meet the minimum number of attendees needed, but in the end, it turned out to be a success, with full participation from all members.
After the meeting, Chairman Mohsin Naqvi took a moment to thank the organizers, especially the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and its acting president, Mr. Aminul Islam, for hosting the event. He appreciated their professionalism, teamwork, and warm hospitality, calling it a proud moment as the ACC Annual General Meeting was held in Bangladesh for the very first time.
One of the key topics discussed at the meeting was the future of the upcoming Asia Cup, particularly where it will be held and how it will be organized. While no final decision was made, it was confirmed that the tournament will go ahead with the participation of 8 member countries. A follow-up meeting has been planned to finalize the details.
A major announcement from the meeting was the inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games 2026, which will take place in Japan. The ACC confirmed that 10 men’s and 8 women’s teams will take part, with selections based on team rankings.
Another exciting development was the expansion of the ACC family. Three new countries, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines, have officially joined as members.
Cricket’s Journey in the Asian Games
The Asian Games are a multi-sport event featuring athletes from across Asia. Cricket was first introduced in the 2010 edition after a long absence from multi-sport events, following the 1998 Commonwealth Games. The Asian Games 2026 in Japan will mark the fourth time cricket is featured in the tournament.
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Currently, India holds the title of defending champions in both the men’s and women’s events from the 2022 Asian Games. Before that, Pakistan won the women’s tournament twice, while Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India have each claimed victory once in the men’s competition.
Cricket Returns to the Olympics
Cricket is also making a historic comeback to the global stage. The sport will be part of the Summer Olympics 2028 in Los Angeles, making its Olympic return after 128 years.
Although the selection process is still being worked out, the committee has confirmed that six men’s and six women’s teams will compete in the LA28 Games. With this, cricket is gaining more global attention and finding a place in the biggest multi-sport events once again.
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