Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has raised concerns about the playing conditions at the Asian Games 2026 in Japan. The cricket event will be played from September 28; however, several cricket boards, including the BCCI and PCB, are not happy with the arrangements.
Chopra said that countries like Japan and China have top infrastructure for other sports, but not for cricket, adding that by the time they start preparing for cricket, it’s already too late. He said the conditions are often dangerous and the safety of the players is on the line.
“There is a different uproar going on about the Asian Games. We saw it last time as well. Whether it’s in China or Japan, these countries have all kinds of top-quality infrastructure, but not for cricket. They also wake up late for cricket. By the time they wake up, they realise that making it is a very difficult job,” said on his YouTube.
“They have tried, but we saw last time as well that if a top-flight bowler bowls fast, the pitches aren’t ready at all. They are actually dangerous to play. You feel the safety of your own players is on the line. They prepare the ground but are unable to prepare the square, and no cricket would have been played on it. You shouldn’t be surprised at all if it becomes dangerous,” he added.
Chopra said that countries like these do not realise that cricket is a different kind of game and require better arrangements, highlighting several accomodation issues that have come to light.
“The second problem is that there probably isn’t enough realisation that cricket is a different kind of sport. The facilities that are required just to perform at the highest level aren’t ready at all. They say they can’t provide hotels, two people will stay in a room, and that they are using cruise ships or converted containers as hotels. This is not how cricket actually happens,” he said.
“You can call it slightly elitist or classist, as to why it is not right for them when it is right for everyone else. You may have a point, but the truth is that cricket is not played like that. When you go to play cricket around the world, you get a single room to stay. You get your privacy, and you are used to that,” Chopra observed.