Cricketers to get best rooms at Asian Games

By the Editorial Team · Thursday, September 3, 2026

Cricketers at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan will be housed in hotel accommodations that are reportedly better than those provided to many other athletes, as confirmed by the head of Japanese cricket. This arrangement addresses concerns over lodging quality amid venue limitations, though some teams like India have expressed dissatisfaction and may send a secondary squad.

Cricketers participating in the Asian Games scheduled for later this month in Japan will receive hotel accommodations that are reportedly superior to those provided for many other athletes at the event, according to the head of Japanese cricket. The Games will take place from September 19 in Nagoya and the surrounding Aichi region.

Concerns over lodging and facility quality emerged earlier this week when a Sri Lankan official indicated that several leading Asian cricket teams had expressed unease about the accommodations for players. With cricket being a relatively minor sport in Japan, the matches will be held at Korogi Sports Park, a purpose-built venue converted from a baseball field approximately 40 minutes by train from central Nagoya. Reports have highlighted that some facilities, such as dressing rooms and washrooms, are makeshift, including the use of tents and distant restrooms.

The Asian Games do not feature a traditional athletes’ village. Instead, organizers have arranged a mix of accommodations, including cabins on a cruise ship, rooms in temporary wooden containers, and hotel rooms. Organizers recently stated that housing capacity is already stretched to its limit due to a surge in the number of athletes to about 17,000, compared with approximately 11,000 who participated in the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji emphasized that accommodation arrangements for cricket teams have been carefully negotiated over an extended period in collaboration with the Asian Games organizing committee and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Miyaji stated that cricket participants are being housed in hotels, while athletes from many other sports will be staying in more restricted facilities, such as on a cruise ship or in container-style lodgings.

Meanwhile, media outlets in India have reported dissatisfaction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the accommodation and overall arrangements. The reports suggest that India is considering sending a secondary squad to the Games, despite naming an initial 15-player team led by Shreyas Iyer, which includes 15-year-old prospect Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

The Asian Games cricket tournament reflects ongoing challenges in accommodating a large, diverse group of athletes while incorporating less-established sports in venues and facilities that are still under development.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.