The 2026 Asian Games men’s cricket competition will be staged in Aichi‑Nagoya, Japan, from 19 September to 4 October. Ten teams will battle for continental glory and the coveted gold medal.
Teams in the fray
Five full member nations from Asia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, qualified automatically. Hosts Japan also secured a direct berth. The remaining four spots were filled by Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Oman, who impressed at the Asian Games Men’s Qualifier 2026.
This sets up a mouthwatering 10‑team contest, with the possibility of an electrifying India vs Pakistan clash stealing the spotlight.
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India: A Power‑packed squad
India have named a formidable 15‑member squad led by Shreyas Iyer. The selectors have opted for a blend of senior stars and rising talents.
- Batting core: Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma.
- Bowling strength: Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, among others.
One notable absentee is Hardik Pandya, who has been rested with an eye on the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2027. Even without him, India look well‑balanced and remain strong favourite to defend their gold medal.
Pakistan: A youthful gamble
Pakistan, in contrast, have gone for sweeping changes. The selectors appointed Sahibzada Farhan as captain, replacing Salman Ali Agha. Senior stalwarts like Babar Azam, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, and Agha have all been left out.
Instead, Pakistan have chosen a youthful brigade featuring Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Saad Masood, and Maaz Sadaqat, none of whom have played a T20I yet. Abdul Samad, who impressed in the PSL with 132 runs at a strike rate of 188.57, has been named vice‑captain.
This bold selection strategy signals Pakistan’s intent to build for the future, even if it means sacrificing experience in favour of fresh energy.
The contrast between India’s star‑studded lineup and Pakistan’s youthful experiment sets the stage for a fascinating tournament. With ten teams vying for glory and the tantalising prospect of an India vs Pakistan showdown, the 2026 Asian Games men’s cricket competition promises drama, rivalries, and unforgettable moments.
Pakistan’s squad for the Asian Games 2026:
Sahibzada Farhan (captain), Abdul Samad (vice-captain), Abrar Ahmed, Ahmed Daniyal, Akif Javed, Ali Raza, Arafat Minhas, Haider Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Maaz Sadaqat, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Saad Masood, Saim Ayub, Sufyan Moqim, Usman Khan (wicket-keeper)
India’s squad for the Asian Games 2026:
Shreyas Iyer (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Shivam Dube, Tilak Varma (vice-captain), Nitish Kumar Reddy, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
