Full List Of Teams To Qualify For Asian Games 2026

Afghanistan, India and Nepal players in picture [Source: AFP]

A total of ten men’s teams will compete for medals in the T20 cricket tournament at the 2026 Asian Games, scheduled from September 24 to October 3 in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.

The hosts, Japan, earned automatic qualification while five Asian nations with ICC Full Member status, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, also secured direct entry.

The remaining four places were decided through the Asian Games 2026 men’s cricket qualifiers, held in Singapore during May and June. Eight teams participated in the qualifiers, split into two groups of four.

The top two from each group advanced to the semi-finals. Hong Kong China, Nepal, Oman, and Malaysia became the four semi-finalists, thereby securing their spots for the Asian Games.

Nepal’s Dominant Run Through the Qualifier

Nepal entered the qualifier as one of the strongest associate nations in Asia, and they lived up to expectations. After advancing from their group, Nepal faced a tough semi-final and won to reach the final.

The championship match was played against Hong Kong China at the Singapore National Cricket Ground on June 8, 2026. What followed was a thrilling contest that went down to the DLS method.

The Final of Asian Games 2026: Hong Kong vs Nepal

Hong Kong won the toss and elected to bat first. Their openers started steadily, but Nepal’s bowlers struck early. Sher Malla was the hero with the ball for Nepal, taking four crucial wickets.

He removed Nizakat Khan, Babar Hayat, Shiv Mathur, and Shahid Wasif, finishing with brilliant figures of 4 wickets for just 32 runs in his 4 overs. Karan KC also picked up two wickets.

Despite the wickets falling at regular intervals, Hong Kong’s batsmen played aggressively. Anshuman Rath was the star for Hong Kong, scoring a magnificent 80 runs off just 45 balls, hitting six boundaries and six sixes.

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Shahid Wasif contributed a quick 55 off 28 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. Thanks to their efforts, Hong Kong posted a strong total of 188 runs for the loss of 7 wickets in their 20 overs.

Nepal needed 189 runs to win in normal conditions. However, rain interrupted play during Nepal’s innings. The match officials revised the target using the DLS method, and Nepal were set a new target. When play resumed, Nepal’s batters showed no signs of pressure.

Bhurtel-Paudel Magic End Qualifier On A High

Kushal Bhurtel played a fantastic knock, smashing 65 runs off just 40 balls, hitting eight fours and three sixes. He put on a 40-run opening partnership with Aasif Sheikh, who unfortunately fell for a duck.

After Bhurtel’s dismissal at 103 runs, Rohit Paudel took charge. He remained unbeaten on 35 runs from 24 balls, while captain Dipendra Singh Airee smashed a quick 9 not out off only 4 deliveries.

Nepal reached 114 runs for the loss of just 2 wickets in 11.3 overs, which was 19 runs ahead of the DLS par score. Nepal won the match by 19 runs via the DLS method and were crowned champions of the Asian Games qualifier tournament.

Hong Kong, despite the loss, had already qualified by reaching the semi-finals, so both finalists secured their places in Japan.

Full List of Teams That Qualified for Men’s Asian Games 2026

Full List of Teams That Qualified for Women’s Asian Games 2026

What This Means for Men's Asian Games 2026?

With the qualifiers completed, the full line-up for the men’s cricket event is confirmed. The top six seeded teams, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and hosts Japan, will enter directly into the quarter-finals.

The four qualifier teams, Nepal, Hong Kong, Oman, and Malaysia, will first play a preliminary round. From that preliminary stage, the top two teams will join the six seeded teams in the quarter-finals. From there, it becomes a straight knockout tournament leading to the gold medal match on October 3.

All matches will be played at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture. The men’s tournament runs from September 24 to October 3, with double-headers scheduled daily. Morning matches start at 5:30 AM IST (9:00 AM local), and afternoon matches begin at 10:30 AM IST (2:00 PM local).

India, Nepal To Aim For Gold

India enter the tournament as the defending gold medalists from the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games. The BCCI has named a strong squad for 2026, featuring players like Shreyas Iyer, Jasprit Bumrah, Sanju Samson, and Axar Patel.

Nepal will be eager to cause upsets and prove that their qualifier triumph was no fluke. With the T20 format allowing any team to shine on its day, an exciting competition in Japan is in the works.

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