New Delhi, September 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia has described India’s September 22 T20I against Japan as a landmark occasion for cricket’s expansion into new territories, with the one-off match set to mark the beginning of celebrations for 75 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
The fixture will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture and will serve as the flagship opening event of ‘Sport 75′, a bilateral initiative aimed at strengthening sporting exchanges and cooperation between India and Japan.
“India-Japan is more than a cricket match. It represents the direction in which our sport is moving from a global ambition to a global reality,” Saikia said in a post on X.
He said the fixture would take international cricket to a new audience and help strengthen the sport’s presence in a region with significant potential.
Saikia also credited ICC Chairman Jay Shah for placing the global expansion of cricket at the centre of the sport’s long-term vision. He said the objective was to make cricket more accessible, inclusive and truly global while creating a stronger pathway towards the Olympic movement.
The match will also precede India’s Asian Games campaign in Japan. The men’s cricket competition at the Games is scheduled to be held from September 24 to October 3.
Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Miyaji has described India’s visit as a potentially transformative moment for the development of cricket in the country.
The Sano International Cricket Ground, which generally accommodates around 500 spectators, is expected to increase its capacity to up to 2,000 for the match. Ticketing details are expected to be announced through the organisers’ official social media channels.
Saikia said the BCCI viewed the fixture as part of a sustained effort to take cricket to new countries, communities and generations rather than as a standalone event.
FOLLOW NOW
