Tokyo, Sept 9:
Japan have named their 15-member Asian Games squad for the historic one-off T20 International against India, with the same group set to represent the country when the Asian Games cricket competition begins later this month.
The India-Japan match will be played on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, marking the first men’s T20I meeting between the two countries. The match is part of the Suzuki Cup and the broader âSport 75â initiative aimed at strengthening sporting and people-to-people ties between India and Japan.
Japan’s squad is led by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, the country’s leading run-scorer in T20 internationals. Ibrahim Takahashi and Declan Suzuki-McComb are also among the experienced members of the side, having played more than 50 T20Is for Japan.
The Japanese selectors have deliberately retained the same squad for both the India match and the Asian Games. The decision will allow the team to use the high-profile encounter as preparation for its campaign in the continental multi-sport event.
Japan have also left out players who are eligible to play full T20 internationals under ICC regulations but do not meet the eligibility requirements for the Asian Games. The squad has therefore been selected with the Games in mind rather than solely for the India fixture.
The match is particularly significant for Japanese cricket because India are one of the world’s leading cricketing nations, while Japan are still developing their presence in the international game. Facing India will provide the Japanese players with an opportunity to gain experience against a high-level opposition ahead of their Asian Games campaign.
The Asian Games are scheduled to begin on September 19 in Aichi-Nagoya, with cricket forming part of the competition. India’s men’s team, led by Shreyas Iyer, will enter the tournament at the quarter-final stage.
The India-Japan match is also linked to the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries and was conceived as part of efforts to expand sporting cooperation. The game is scheduled to start at 9.30 am IST.
The fixture therefore carries significance beyond the result. For Japan, it represents a rare opportunity to share the field with a cricket powerhouse; for India, it offers a chance to contribute to the growth of cricket in a country where the sport remains relatively young.