Hotel stays, top playing conditions: Japan Cricket eases Asian Games concerns

Japan Cricket Association has moved to ease concerns over Asian Games facilities, assuring teams of hotel accommodation, quality playing conditions and support despite the tight timeline.Nisshin Cricket Ground at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture will be used for Asian Games (AFP Photo)Cricket is set to be one of the biggest sports at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan, with organisers working against a tight 17-month preparation window to deliver facilities for some of Asia's leading cricket teams. Speaking exclusively to India Today, Japan Cricket Association (JCA) CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji said organisers had effectively started from scratch because there were no cricket venues of an appropriate standard in Aichi Prefecture when preparations began."The playing surface and field will be the best seen in cricket's inclusion in the AGs," Miyaji told India Today, while acknowledging the constraints faced by the organisers.The Asian Games are being organised by the Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) in collaboration with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) under the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The JCA has provided support in several areas but is not directly responsible for organising the cricket competition.According to Miyaji, AINAGOC and the ACC have worked closely to make the most of the limited time and resources available. The cricket venue at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin will feature a full-size ground with turf and hybrid pitches. Experienced curators have been brought in to prepare the playing surface, with Sri Lanka Cricket also credited with providing curatorial expertise."There are limits on what they can do within these tight limits," Miyaji said, adding that the facilities have nevertheless been developed with the aim of providing players and officials with as comfortable an environment as possible. The venue will have a combination of temporary and permanent facilities. While facilities immediately around the ground will be temporary, AINAGOC has worked closely with the ACC for more than a year to determine what can be delivered within the venue's restrictions and the short preparation period.Miyaji also clarified that toilets will be available within the player areas, while permanent facilities surrounding the ground will also be accessible to players. This photo taken on May 9, 2026, shows the pitch at the Nisshin Cricket Ground at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture (Getty Images) ACCOMODATION FLEXIBLEAccommodation has also been a key part of the preparations. It emerged that full-member boards wanted representatives in Japan to assess facilities amid concerns over cramped rooms at the Games Village and accommodation standards.Miyaji said the ACC has been discussing accommodation options with AINAGOC for a considerable period and that participating cricket teams are being offered hotel accommodation.Other sports at the Asian Games are facing more limited accommodation arrangements, including options involving cruise ships and container hotels, according to Miyaji.Cricket teams will also have the option of making their own accommodation arrangements if they prefer.While the JCA is not directly organising the cricket competition, it has concentrated heavily on connecting the sport with the local community. The association has taken cricket to schools and shopping centres across the area, where the response has been highly enthusiastic. The JCA is also relying on the support of Nisshin City, with Miyaji expressing confidence that the local community will strongly back the Asian Games."We are confident that the local community will be 100% behind the AGs," Miyaji said.The JCA has considerable experience organising international cricket matches and tournaments in Japan. That experience, Miyaji said, means concerns are inevitable before a major event, but they can also help organisers identify areas where improvements can be made."We will have many concerns leading into events with the intention of making whatever improvements possible so that we deliver the best possible tournament," he said.The Asian Games will mark a significant moment for cricket in Japan, with the competition bringing some of the continent's leading teams to the country. Miyaji said cricket would be among the largest sports at the Games and highlighted the significance of having the top cricket teams from Asia competing in Japan for the first time. The JCA intends to support AINAGOC and the ACC in delivering the tournament, with a broader objective of using the event to introduce cricket to new audiences in Japan."We will be supporting AINAGOC and the ACC so the tournament is a success and attracts new audiences to the sport in Japan," Miyaji said.- EndsPublished By: Akshay RameshPublished On: Sep 2, 2026 14:14 IST