Cricket is a minor sport in Japan, but it will provide the best accommodation to the participating teams, according to the head of Japanese cricket. Cricketers at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan will have better accommodation than athletes from many other sports, amid concerns about a lack of five-star hotels for players. A Sri Lankan official noted that some of Asia’s top teams have raised doubts over the facilities and accommodation at the games, which will take place in Nagoya and the wider Aichi area starting September 19.
Cricket is a minor sport in Japan, and its matches will be held at a new purpose-built ground, with reports indicating that tents will serve as dressing rooms and toilet facilities will be located some distance away. There is no dedicated athletes’ village for the games; organizers are relying on cabins in a cruise ship, temporary wooden containers, and hotels for accommodation.
Organizers reported last week that accommodation is already at capacity, as the number of athletes has increased to 17,000, compared to about 11,000 athletes at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The cricket tournament is being organized by the Asian Games organizing committee in collaboration with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Alex Miyaji stated that the two bodies have been discussing accommodation options for an extended period. "The participating teams in cricket are being offered hotel accommodation," Miyaji said on Wednesday. He added that many other sports are being accommodated in more limited facilities, such as a cruise ship or container hotels.
Matches will take place at Korogi Sports Park, a converted baseball field located a 40-minute train ride from central Nagoya. Media reports from India indicated that the country’s cricket board was dissatisfied with the arrangements and might send a second-string squad after initially naming 15 players led by Shreyas Iyer, including 15-year-old rising star Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.
Miyaji mentioned that the organizers had “only had 17 months to prepare and had to start from scratch” for cricket at the games. He emphasized their efforts to provide the best facilities possible within the limited timeline and facility restrictions. "Despite being temporary, the facilities will provide as comfortable a space as possible for the players and officials," he stated.
Miyaji also noted that the pitch, prepared by the curator of the 35,000-capacity Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Sri Lanka, would meet high standards. "From what I have seen, the playing surface and field will be the best seen in cricket’s inclusion in the Asian Games," he added.