‘Pitches aren’t ready at all’ - Aakash Chopra raises safety concerns over 2026 Asian Games cricket venue

Cricket's inclusion at the 2026 Asian Games in Japan has drawn scrutiny over venue readiness and player safety. The sport will be played at Kōrogi Sports Park in Nisshin, a facility re-modelled from a baseball ground with groundworks completed in late March 2026. The venue features a hybrid pitch square and will host twelve nations competing in men's and women's formats from September 17 to October 3, 2026.

Former India opener Aakash Chopra has expressed serious concerns about the preparedness of the Asian Games cricket infrastructure. Speaking on his YouTube channel, Chopra highlighted the challenges that host nations face when preparing cricket facilities outside their traditional sporting focus.

"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 realize that making it is a very difficult job," said Chopra.

Pitch safety concerns at the 2026 Asian Games venue

Chopra's primary concern centres on pitch safety and the ability of ground staff to prepare playing surfaces to international standards. He drew on observations from previous Asian Games editions where cricket was played in 2010, 2014 and 2023, noting that fast bowling has exposed inadequate pitch preparation in the past.

"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," Chopra added.

Accommodation and facility standards for cricket

Beyond pitch concerns, Chopra identified accommodation and logistical arrangements as secondary issues affecting the overall tournament experience. He stressed that cricket operates under different standards compared to other sports hosted at multi-sport events, requiring specific facilities and player welfare provisions.

"The second problem is that there probably isn't enough realization 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 opined.

Chopra acknowledged that his observations might be perceived as demanding but maintained that cricket's operational requirements differ fundamentally from other sports. He emphasised that players competing at the highest level expect consistent standards across all international venues.

"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 concluded.

India's men's and women's teams will defend their gold medals from the 2023 Asian Games, with both squads receiving direct quarter-final berths. The tournament will test whether the newly prepared venue at Kōrogi Sports Park can meet the demands of international cricket competition.