Cricket is set to feature in the 2026 edition of the Asian Games, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced on Thursday.

“ACC announced the inclusion of cricket in the upcoming Asian Games 2026 to be held in Japan, which will see participation 10 (ten) men’s and 8 (eight) women’s teams from across the continent, to be chosen based on their rankings,” the Asian cricket body stated in a press release.

“The organization also welcomed 3 new Member nations, Mongolia, Uzbekistan, and the Philippines into the ACC family, extending the reach of the sport into new and emerging cricket regions,” the statement added.

This will mark cricket’s fourth appearance at the Asian Games, with the first instance happening in Guangzhou in 2010.

India is the defending champion in both the men’s and women’s events, having claimed the titles in Hangzhou in 2023.

Japan will host the Asian Games next year, with the event set to run from September 19 to October 4 in 2026.