Japan vs Afghanistan, Asian Games Cricket 2026
Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
Japan and Afghanistan open the men’s cricket competition at the 2026 Asian Games on 24 September. The Group A match begins at 9:00 AM local time in Japan, which is 00:00 GMT.
Hosts Japan face a demanding first assignment against Afghanistan, one of five ICC Full Member teams in the tournament. Nepal complete Group A, and the top two sides will progress to the quarter-finals.
The match will be played in the T20 format at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi. Team line-ups will be confirmed at the toss, so this preview avoids presenting an unconfirmed playing XI as final.
Match Focus
Japan vs Afghanistan Match Information
The first match of the Asian Games men’s cricket competition 2026 will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on 24 September 2026. Play begins at 00:00 GMT or 9:00 AM in Japan.
Japan vs Afghanistan Asian Games Match Preview
Japan begin their home Asian Games campaign against Afghanistan in the first match of the men’s tournament. The hosts have the advantage of familiar conditions, but Afghanistan enter as the more experienced international side.
The short T20 format gives Japan an opportunity to put Afghanistan under pressure early. A disciplined powerplay with bat and ball will be important, particularly because every preliminary-round result can affect qualification.
Afghanistan will aim to start strongly and avoid leaving their quarter-final hopes to the final Group A fixture. Japan, meanwhile, can make an immediate statement in front of a home crowd by staying competitive through all three phases of the match.
Official playing XIs will be available after the toss. Visitors should check this page close to the scheduled start for the latest match-day information.
How the Asian Games Cricket Format Works
Afghanistan, Japan and Nepal are in Group A. Hong Kong, Malaysia and Oman make up Group B. The top two teams from each preliminary group advance to the quarter-finals.
India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka enter directly at the quarter-final stage. The men’s competition runs from 24 September to 3 October, with every match played in the T20 format.
Japan vs Afghanistan Live Cricket Streaming
Watch Japan vs Afghanistan live cricket streaming on WebCric. The WebCric live cricket streaming page will carry the video player and essential match information around the scheduled start at 00:00 GMT.
Live streaming availability may vary by country, device and broadcast rights. Open this page near the start of play and refresh once if the stream has not loaded.
Asian Games Men’s Cricket 2026 Group Schedule
The preliminary round is played from 24 to 26 September. Each group has three teams, with two quarter-final places available.
| Match | Date | Time | Venue / Group |
|---|---|---|---|
| Japan vs Afghanistan | 24 September 2026 | 00:00 GMT | Korogi Sports Park, Group A |
| Hong Kong vs Malaysia | 24 September 2026 | 05:00 GMT | Korogi Sports Park, Group B |
| Afghanistan vs Nepal | 25 September 2026 | 00:00 GMT | Korogi Sports Park, Group A |
| Malaysia vs Oman | 25 September 2026 | 05:00 GMT | Korogi Sports Park, Group B |
| Japan vs Nepal | 26 September 2026 | 00:00 GMT | Korogi Sports Park, Group A |
| Hong Kong vs Oman | 26 September 2026 | 05:00 GMT | Korogi Sports Park, Group B |
Japan vs Afghanistan Team Information
Japan
Japan are the host nation and compete in Group A alongside Afghanistan and Nepal. The final playing XI will be confirmed at the toss.
Afghanistan
Afghanistan are the only ICC Full Member in Group A and begin their route to the knockout stage in the preliminary round. The final playing XI will be confirmed at the toss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I watch Japan vs Afghanistan live cricket streaming?
The Japan vs Afghanistan live cricket streaming page is available on WebCric. Access can vary by location, device and regional broadcast rights.
When will the WebCric live stream become available?
The WebCric live cricket streaming player is intended to be available close to the scheduled start at 00:00 GMT. Open the page shortly before play begins.
Can I watch WebCric live cricket streaming on a mobile device?
Yes. The WebCric match page is designed for phones, tablets and desktop browsers. A stable connection and an up-to-date browser will provide the best experience.
Do I need to refresh the WebCric page on match day?
If the live cricket stream is not visible at the scheduled start, refresh the WebCric page once. There is no need to reload repeatedly before the match begins.
What should I do if the live cricket stream does not load?
Check your connection, disable aggressive content blocking for the page and reload once. Streaming availability may also depend on your country and applicable media rights.
What match information does WebCric provide?
Alongside live cricket streaming, WebCric provides the confirmed start time, venue, group details, match preview and links to related Asian Games cricket pages.