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Cricket facilities for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya have been making headlines for the last week. Now, the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) CEO Alex Miyaji has addressed the concerns around the pitch, dressing rooms and other arrangements at the cricket venue in Japan.
The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) revealed that the organizers had only 17 months to prepare the cricket venue from scratch, as there was no cricket ground of suitable standard in Aichi Prefecture. The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (AINAGOC) have worked together to make the facilities ready despite the short time.
JCA promises top-class playing surface at Asian Games 2026
The JCA CEO Alex Miyaji has insisted that the playing surface will be one of the best seen at the Asian Games 2026. The venue will have a full-size ground with turf and hybrid pitches.
The pitches have been prepared by experienced curators, with Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) playing an important role in providing support for the pitch preparation. The venue has already hosted international matches earlier this year, so the organizers already had some experience.
How Japan prepared a cricket venue in just 17 months?
Alex Miyaji was quoted as saying by Cricbuzz: “All parties are working hard to ensure the success of cricket in the AGs. They only had 17 months to prepare and had to start from scratch as there were no cricket venues of any standard in Aichi Prefecture.
Considering the limited time and resources available, the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games Organising Committee (ANIAGOC) and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have worked together to ensure that the playing facilities are suitable.”
The JCA CEO further added, “There are limits on what they can do within these tight limits, but from what I have seen, the playing surface and field will be the best seen in cricket's inclusion in the AGs. It will be a full-size ground with turf and hybrid pitches prepared by the best curators which Sri Lanka Cricket should be credited for providing.”
JCA addresses temporary dressing room concerns
One of the biggest concerns has been the temporary nature of the dressing rooms and other player facilities. Miyaji said that the organisers have been working on these arrangements for more than a year. He revealed that the venue will have both temporary and permanent facilities.
The temporary areas will be used by players and officials, while toilets will also be available inside the player area. Permanent facilities around the ground will also be accessible to the teams.
The JCA believes these arrangements will provide a comfortable environment despite the limited timeline and facility restrictions. Amid this, Ajit Agarkar’s future takes another turn as BCCI eyes extension till 2027.
Asian Games 2026 Accommodation Row: Japan gives big relief to India, Pakistan
Accommodation has been the biggest talking point ahead of the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The JCA has clarified that cricket teams are being offered hotel accommodation, but he has now made it clear that the participating teams have the freedom to arrange their own hotels if they are not satisfied with the available options.
His reaction came after the BCCI and PCB reportedly expressed concern over the facility that would be provided to the teams for the tournament. However, the BCCI has not officially reacted to the news.
Miyaji added, “I can also assure you that the ACC has been discussing accommodation options with AINAGOC for a long time. The participating teams in cricket are being offered hotel accommodation. Many other sports are being accommodated in much more limited facilities, such as a cruise ship or container hotels. The teams are free to arrange their own accommodation if they choose to do so.”
