Japan’s Asian Games cycle shows how international cricket, infrastructure, partnerships and global leadership can combine to create longer-term value in an emerging market
Naoki Alex Miyaji and Alan Curr, together with the Japan Cricket Association, deserve considerable credit for recognising that the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games could become much more than a cricket tournament.
For Abhiram S. Yadav, Associate Member representative on the ICC Chief Executives’ Committee and Chairman of Persatuan Cricket Indonesia, Japan offers a practical example of how an emerging cricket market can turn one major sporting moment into wider development.
“Alex and Alan, together with the Japan Cricket team, did not simply wait for the Asian Games to bring attention to cricket,” Abhiram said. “They recognised the wider opportunity and built around it.”
Japan had already laid important foundations before the Games. Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, a remodelled baseball facility, staged six matches during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Qualifier in May before becoming the Asian Games cricket venue. The event brought schoolchildren, politicians, media and first-time spectators into contact with cricket. (ICC Cricket)
Japan’s most visible move came on September 22, when it hosted reigning T20 world champions India at the Sano International Cricket Ground in the first men’s T20I between the countries.
Japan lost by only two runs in a rain-shortened five-over contest, but the fixture’s value went far beyond the result. It connected elite international cricket with sponsorship, government support, diplomacy and local engagement. Suzuki Motor Corporation was title partner, alongside a broader group of Japanese and Indian commercial partners. (Japan Cricket Association)
“One international match became a platform for much more than cricket,” Abhiram said. “That is what makes Japan’s approach particularly relevant to other Associates.”
There was also an important global leadership dimension.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia publicly credited ICC Chairman Jay Shah’s initiative for helping make the match possible, saying Shah had directed him during the ICC meetings in Edinburgh to engage with his Japanese counterpart about organising the fixture. (CricTracker)
“Chairman Jay Shah has repeatedly spoken about making cricket more accessible, inclusive and genuinely global,” Abhiram said.
“What deserves genuine praise is seeing that vision translated into action. Helping create the India-Japan opportunity is a strong example — bringing the world champions into an emerging cricket country and creating a platform that could have a much wider impact.”
Abhiram said successful development requires both global leadership and strong execution at Member level.
“The Chairman can provide direction and open a door. The Member then has to make that opportunity count. Alex and Alan, together with Japan Cricket, did exactly that.”
Shah later attended the men’s Asian Games final on October 3, presented India’s gold medals and said “Nagoya and Japan have written a proud new chapter in cricket’s history.” (The Tribune)
India completed a cricket double, winning both the men’s and women’s gold medals. Pakistan secured men’s silver and women’s bronze, while Sri Lanka took women’s silver and men’s bronze. (ICC Cricket)
For Abhiram, Japan’s development scorecard therefore extends beyond medals.
“The medal table matters, but it is not the only measurement. For an Associate, we should also ask whether the event leaves behind better facilities, stronger partnerships, greater government confidence, new audiences and more international opportunities.”
That principle extends beyond Japan. Bahrain travelled to Bali twice in 2025 for men’s T20I series against Indonesia. Bhutan hosted Myanmar for a five-match T20I series, while Nepal’s historic bilateral series victory over West Indies demonstrated the competitive value of giving Associates meaningful opportunities against stronger opposition. (Cricbuzz)
“Associates cannot only look upwards and ask Full Members for opportunities,” Abhiram said. “When we become stronger, we also have a responsibility to create opportunities for others. Rankings matter, but they should not become walls.”
The next challenge is making the model repeatable. Asian Games, ICC tournaments and regional events already move teams across regions, potentially creating windows for standalone internationals, short bilateral series or compact neutral events without requiring entirely new tours.
That thinking also complements the development focus of Gurumurthy Palani, now ICC Associate Member Director and Chair of the ICC Development Committee, who has argued that Associates can play a pivotal role in making cricket stronger globally. (Cricbuzz)
“The opportunity is often already there,” Abhiram said. “The challenge is recognising it early enough and being ready to maximise it.”
“Japan did that. Global leadership helped create the international connection, while Alex and Alan, together with Japan Cricket, made the opportunity count.”
“A major event should leave cricket stronger than it found it. Japan has shown Associates one way that can happen.”
