Cricket at the Asian Games is a relatively recent addition to the multi-sport event. It became a medal sport at the 2010 Asian Games and has been featured in the 2014 and 2023 editions as well. The matches are played in the Twenty20 (T20) format, with the mens and womens events being contested separately. The inclusion of cricket in the Asian Games was driven by Asian cricketing powerhouses India and Pakistan, with the initial plan including Test status nations such as Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, as well as Associate teams like Nepal.
The 2023 Asian Games marked the return of cricket to the event after a nine-year hiatus. The mens T20 cricket tournament was contested by 14 teams, and India emerged as the champions by virtue of their global T20 ranking after the final against Afghanistan was called off due to rain. Afghanistan won the silver medal, while Bangladesh defeated Pakistan to win the bronze medal.
The matches were played at the Zhejiang University of Technology Pingfeng Cricket Field in Hangzhou, China. The mens cricket tournament ran from September 27 to October 7, 2023, and India fielded a cricket team for the first time at the continental meet. The Board of Cricket Control in India (BCCI) sent a second-string side for the mens event, while a full-strength Indian cricket team participated in the womens event.
The decision to include cricket in the Asian Games was significant, as it provided an opportunity for cricket to be showcased at a major multi-sport event in the region, allowing teams from various Asian countries to compete at an international level and gain exposure.
