Cricket
oi-Ashish Rana
Indian men’s cricket team will play Japan in T20 international match on 22 September to mark the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
To celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties, the Indian and Japanese men’s cricket teams will contest their first T20 international match on September 22 in Tochigi, Japan, initiating the Sport 75 sports exchange program.
India is also going to compete in Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan from 19 September to 4 October. The T20I against Japan will provide Indian team chance of practice ahead of Asian Games.
“The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are delighted to announce that the men’s teams from each nation will play a T20 International match to launch the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of India-Japan Diplomatic Relations,” said BCCI in a statement.
Suzuki Cup Clash in Tochigi
India and Japan will play for Suzuki Cup at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture.
“The match will be the first step of “Sport 75″, an initiative that stems from an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and aims to promote human exchanges and cooperation between India and Japan in the field of sports, taking note of India’s ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036,” the statement added.
First-Ever International Meeting
This is going to be the historic first-ever international match between both the teams. The teams will also play in 2026 Asian Games, although Japan will play entering group stage while India will directly enter from quarter-final round.
BCCI, JCA Welcome Historic Fixture
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia called the fixture a significant moment for cricket’s expansion in Japan and East Asia.
“This is a significant moment for cricket, as it takes the Indian team to new territory and provides an opportunity to introduce the sport to a wider audience in Japan and East Asia.”
JCA CEO Naoki Miyaji said hosting the reigning world champions was a landmark moment for Japanese cricket.
“To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association,” he said.
