The Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier 2026 runs from May 31 to June 9, 2026, at the Singapore National Cricket Ground. Eight teams fight for four spots at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Here is everything you need to know about the schedule, format, groups, and teams.
Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier 2026: Tournament Overview
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Tournament | Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier 2026 |
| Start Date | May 31, 2026 |
| End Date | June 9, 2026 |
| Host | Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) |
| Venue | Singapore National Cricket Ground (SNCG Singa Oval & SNCG Oval) |
| Teams | 8 |
| Spots Available | 4 (top two from each group) |
| Main Event | Asian Games 2026, Aichi-Nagoya, Japan (September–October 2026) |
Six nations have already locked in their Asian Games 2026 spots automatically. India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan qualified as full ICC member nations. Japan gets a free pass as the host country.
That leaves four open berths. These eight teams in Singapore are competing for all four of them.
Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier 2026: Groups
The eight teams split into two groups of four each. Every team plays the other three in their group once. The top two teams from each group advance to the semifinals and, in doing so, confirm their place at the Asian Games 2026.
| Group A | Group B |
|---|---|
| Nepal | Oman |
| Malaysia | Hong Kong, China |
| Qatar | Bahrain |
| China | Singapore (Host) |
Nepal are arguably the strongest side in Group A. Dipendra Singh Airee captains the squad, which also includes big names like Rohit Paudel, Kushal Bhurtel, and Sandeep Lamichhane.
One thing that makes this qualifier unique: Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar are fielding all-national squads. At the previous Asian Games in Hangzhou 2023, Gulf cricket boards stayed away because of player eligibility rules that differ from ICC rules.
Since then, all three boards have built teams made up entirely of their own nationals. All matches in this qualifier also carry ICC Men’s T20I team ranking points, which adds real competitive weight beyond just the Asian Games spots.
Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier 2026: Full Schedule
Here is Full Schedule for Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier:
Group Stage (May 31 – June 5, 2026)
Two matches take place each day throughout the group stage. All games are at the Singapore National Cricket Ground.
| Match No. | Day & Date | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Match 1 | Sun, May 31 | Nepal vs China | 7:00 AM |
| Match 2 | Sun, May 31 | Malaysia vs Qatar | 12:00 PM |
| Match 3 | Mon, June 1 | Singapore vs Oman | 7:00 AM |
| Match 4 | Mon, June 1 | Hong Kong, China vs Bahrain | 12:00 PM |
| Match 5 | Tue, June 2 | Nepal vs Qatar | 7:00 AM |
| Match 6 | Tue, June 2 | Malaysia vs China | 12:00 PM |
| Match 7 | Wed, June 3 | Oman vs Bahrain | 7:00 AM |
| Match 8 | Wed, June 3 | Singapore vs Hong Kong, China | 12:00 PM |
| Match 9 | Thu, June 4 | Qatar vs China | 7:00 AM |
| Match 10 | Thu, June 4 | Nepal vs Malaysia | 12:00 PM |
| Match 11 | Fri, June 5 | Bahrain vs Singapore | 7:00 AM |
| Match 12 | Fri, June 5 | Hong Kong, China vs Oman | 12:00 PM |
June 6 is a rest day before the knockout rounds.
Knockout Stage
| Stage | Date | Match | Time (IST) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semi-Final 1 | Sun, June 7 | A1 vs B2 | Morning |
| Semi-Final 2 | Sun, June 7 | B1 vs A2 | Afternoon |
| 3rd Place Playoff | Mon, June 8 | SF Loser 1 vs SF Loser 2 | 9:30 AM |
| Final | Mon, June 8 | SF Winner 1 vs SF Winner 2 | 2:30 PM |
All four semifinalists qualify for the Asian Games 2026. The final and the third-place playoff both determine who goes to Aichi-Nagoya. So even if your team loses a semifinal, they are still heading to Japan.
Teams Already Qualified for Asian Games 2026 (Men’s Cricket)
These six nations did not need to go through the qualifier:
| Team | Qualification Route |
|---|---|
| India | ICC Full Member |
| Pakistan | ICC Full Member |
| Bangladesh | ICC Full Member |
| Sri Lanka | ICC Full Member |
| Afghanistan | ICC Full Member |
| Japan | Host Nation |
Four more spots remain. The qualifier decides who fills them.
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Conclusion: Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier 2026 Starts On May 31, 2026
The Asian Games Men’s T20I Qualifier 2026 is a short but high-stakes tournament. Eight teams, nine days, four spots there is no room for slow starts.
Nepal look the most complete side in the draw. Oman, Hong Kong, and Malaysia will push hard for those remaining three berths. And with ICC ranking points on the line for every match, even the teams who fall short of the Asian Games have something real to play for.
The action starts May 31 at the Singapore National Cricket Ground. Keep this schedule handy things move fast in T20 cricket.
