The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has clarified that India will not send a second-string squad to the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya. News agency ANI had earlier reported that the Indian board was considering a 'B' team due to inadequate logistical arrangements for international players in Japan.
India picked full-strength men's and women's squads to defend the gold medals they won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou. The men's cricket event is scheduled from September 24 to October 3, while the women's event will take place from September 17 to September 22 at the Korogi Athletic Park venue.
BCCI Addresses Asian Games Facility Concerns, Rules Out 'B' Team
According to NDTV, the BCCI will not send a second-string team to the 2026 Asian Games. The BCCI will review the facilities through its observer, but the concerns will not affect India's decision to field its main squad in the tournament.
Earlier, ANI reported that the BCCI and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) were unhappy with the facilities and could consider sending a 'B' team if the arrangements failed to meet the required standards.
“We told Japan Olympic officials during an ACC meeting that the dressing rooms were set up in tents and washrooms were 500 m away from those tents, which has created an unsatisfactory situation for the players. Also, the hotel rooms are really small, and it is a big concern,” an official said, as quoted by ANI.
Korogi Athletic Park Facilities Raise Concerns Ahead of Asian Games
Korogi Athletic Park was originally built as a baseball facility before it was converted into a cricket venue for the 2026 Asian Games. The ground does not have permanent dressing rooms, while the temporary facilities have raised concerns among the BCCI and ACC.
The venue can accommodate only around 300 spectators and will use a hybrid pitch made with natural grass and synthetic fibres. It has already hosted six matches in May 2026 during the ICC Men's T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers.
India have also secured direct qualification for the quarter-finals. They will face the runner-up of Group A, which includes Afghanistan, Nepal and Japan, in their opening knockout match.
Shreyas Iyer, Harmanpreet Kaur to Lead Strong Indian Squads
India have named a strong men's squad under captain Shreyas Iyer, with Tilak Varma as vice-captain. The team also includes Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Ishan Kishan, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.
Sanju Samson has also been included as a wicketkeeping option. The squad features a mix of established players and young talent as India look to defend the gold medal they won at the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou.
The Indian women's team will be led by Harmanpreet Kaur and includes senior players such as Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Varma and Renuka Thakur. The women's cricket tournament will run from September 17 to 22, while the men's event is scheduled from September 24 to October 3.
India won gold in both men's and women's cricket at the 2023 Asian Games. The men's final against Afghanistan was washed out, with India awarded the gold medal because of their higher seeding.
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