New Delhi, Sep 4: India will play Japan in a historic one-off men’s T20 International on September 22 at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture, marking the first-ever T20I meeting between the two countries and the launch of celebrations for the 75th anniversary of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
The match, to be played for the Suzuki Cup, will also serve as the first step of the ‘Sport 75’ initiative aimed at strengthening sporting ties between the two countries.
The initiative stems from an agreement reached during a meeting between the Japanese prime minister and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and is also linked to India’s ambition to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sees the fixture as an opportunity to take the sport beyond its traditional territories and introduce cricket to a wider audience 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,” BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said.
“India and Japan share a strong and longstanding relationship and friendship, and we are pleased that cricket will be part of the celebrations marking 75 years of bilateral relations between the two countries,” he added.
Saikia said the BCCI would work closely with the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) to help develop the sport in the country.
“The BCCI believes that the growth of cricket must extend beyond its traditional territories, and as the world’s largest cricket board, we recognise our responsibility to contribute to that growth,” he said.
“The BCCI will work closely with the JCA to further strengthen cricket in Japan and to build on this relationship in the years ahead,” Saikia added.
The fixture will make Japan the 20th team against whom India have played a men’s T20I. Japan are currently ranked 41st in the men’s T20I rankings.
The match will be held at the Sano International Cricket Ground, which is separate from the venue that will host the men’s and women’s cricket competitions at the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.
The Japan Cricket Association has described India’s visit as a landmark moment for the development of cricket in the country, particularly as Japan prepares to host the Asian Games later this month.
“To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association,” JCA CEO Naoki Miyaji said.
He thanked the BCCI for helping make the fixture possible and expressed hope that the match would draw both Indian cricket followers and Japanese audiences.
“We greatly look forward to welcoming the passion of Indian cricket fans,” Miyaji said.
“We actively encourage any local Japanese people curious about cricket to come and cheer on our team in what will be a truly memorable occasion,” he added.
The historic fixture is expected to provide a major boost to efforts to popularise cricket in Japan while adding a sporting dimension to the celebrations marking seven-and-a-half decades of India-Japan diplomatic relations.
