Japan offers Associates a lesson in making opportunities count: ICC member

Japan’s Blueprint for Leveraging Major Events to Grow Cricket

• Strategic Vision

  • Associate Member rep Abhiram S. Yadav (ICC Chief Executives’ Committee) says Japan treated the Aichi‑Nagoya Asian Games as a development platform, not just a competition.
  • The approach: use the Games to raise cricket’s profile, upgrade facilities, attract commercial/government backing, and secure high‑profile fixtures.

• Key Milestones

  • Pre‑Games Highlight: On 22 Sept, Japan hosted the reigning T20 World Champions India at the Sano International Cricket Ground for the first men’s T20I between the two nations.
    • Rain‑shortened five‑over match; Japan fell just 2 runs short of a historic upset, delivering a rare global spotlight for Japanese cricket.
  • Venue Development: The Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, already upgraded for the ICC East Asia‑Pacific qualifiers (2026), served as the Asian Games cricket venue.

• ICC Endorsement

  • Jay Shah, ICC Chairman, praised Japan and Nagoya for writing a “proud new chapter in cricket’s history.”

• Takeaway for Other Associates

  • Identify ancillary opportunities around major events (media exposure, infrastructure upgrades, sponsorship).
  • Act quickly to secure marquee matches (e.g., Japan‑India T20I) that amplify the sport’s visibility.
  • Sustain momentum post‑event by leveraging the upgraded facilities and newfound attention for long‑term growth.