Japan’s cricket structure will attain a substantial pace in 2026 as the country will host the East Asia-Pacific (EAP) Qualifier for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2028.Β
The sub-regional qualifier will take place among nine national teams that will play in Japanβs venues, including the new Asian Games Cricket Venue in Nisshin, Aichi Prefecture.
Quick Overview
| Category | Details |
| Event | ICC Menβs T20 World Cup 2028 East Asia-Pacific Qualifier |
| Host Country | Japan |
| Number of Teams | 9 |
| Format | Group Stage (3 groups of 3) β Super Six β Final Standings |
| Dates | 8 β 18 May 2026 |
| Group Stage | 8-10 May 2026 |
| Super Six Stage | 12-18 May 2026 |
| Venues | New Asian Games Cricket Venue (Nisshin, Aichi) & Sano International Cricket Ground |
| Participating Teams | Japan, Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Samoa, Vanuatu |
| Purpose | Determine teams advancing in the 2028 T20 World Cup qualification pathway |
| Significance | First international matches at new Asian Games cricket venue; largest EAP qualifier ever |
Tournament Details and Venues
The KΕrogi Sports Park in Nisshin City is set to host its first-ever Men’s T20 International matches during the group stage. The ground will handle Groups 1 and 3 during the opening three days, while Sano takes Group 2 fixtures.
According to the ICC, this makes it the largest ICC Men’s EAP event ever staged in the region. All Super Six matches will then be centralised at Sano International Cricket Ground.
The city is hosting the 2026 Asian Games in September. This T20 World Cup qualifier will be the first-ever international T20 match held at this new Asian Games cricket venue. This is an important test of the facility prior to the continental competition.
The Participating Nations
The tournament will take place among nine different teams: Japan, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Republic of Korea, Samoa, and Vanuatu.
The championship structure splits the nine teams into three groups of three countries each. Each group will play the other two. The two leading teams of each group proceed to the Super Six stage, in which the competition intensifies for the right to qualify.
Match Schedule, Broadcast, and Accessibility
Group stage matches take place May 8 -10. It is followed by the Super Six Stage, which is between May 12 and 18, and will have all the matches at Sano International Cricket Ground.
On May 8, opening day, the Philippines play Indonesia at Sano in the morning, Fiji play Vanuatu, and the Cook Islands play South Korea at Nisshin. The tournament proceeds at 9:30 AM and 2:00 PM local time on each of the two days.
The tournament will be accessible to cricket fans in the region and other parts of the world, with it being live and free on ICC TV. This broadcast setup widens the exposure of new cricketing countries.
An Extraordinary Opportunity for Japanβs Cricket
Alan Curr, Chief Operating Officer at Japan Cricket Association, said, βThis is an extraordinary opportunity for Japan to show our capacity to host pathway events for the EAP Region across multiple venuesβ.
He also said, βWe will be stretched like no time ever before but are confident we can deliver an event that will showcase the best of the EAP as well as create excitement for cricket at the Asian Games later this year.β
The competition is an indicator of the increasing influence of cricket in East Asia and the Pacific. The number of teams that are taking part in ICC pathway events is only getting bigger. This qualifier tournament offers the much-needed competition to countries that are advancing their cricket programs and seeking qualification for the World Cup.
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