Japan will go toe-to-toe with Afghanistan in the first match of the Asian Games 2026 at Korogi Sports Park in Nisshin on Thursday, September 24.
Japan, captained by Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, enters this campaign after a two-run defeat to India in the Only T20I. Meanwhile, Afghanistan suffered a 0-3 T20I series defeat to India in their most recent series earlier this month.
JAP vs AFG, Asian Games 2026, Match 1, Match Details
Match: Japan vs Afghanistan, Asian Games 2026, Match 1
Time & Date: 5:30 AM IST, Thursday, September 24
Venue: Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin
JAP vs AFG, Asian Games 2026, Match 1 Probable XIs
Japan
Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake, Reo Sakurano-Thomas, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (c), Benjamin Ito-Davis, Wataru Miyauchi, Alexander Shirai-Patmore (wk), Charlie Hara-Hinze, Ibrahim Takahashi, Declan Suzuki-McComb, Makoto Taniyama, Shoma Sugaya-Slater
Afghanistan
Mohammad Ishaq (wk), Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Darwish Rasooli (c), Khalid Taniwal, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Ismat Alam, Nangyal Kharoti, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Farmanullah Safi
JAP vs AFG, Asian Games 2026, Match 1 Pitch Report
The surface at this venue is expected to be a bit tricky for batters. While new ball bowlers will enjoy the proceedings, we can expect spinners to do well in the middle overs. The captain, who won the toss, would love to bowl first.
JAP vs AFG, Asian Games 2026, Match 1 Top Picks
Farmanullah Safi
All-rounder Farmanullah Safi has scored 753 runs and scalped 32 wickets in his 46-match T20 career.
Abdollah Ahmadzai
Afghanistan medium pacer Abdollah Ahmadzai has scalped 14 wickets in 10 T20Is so far at an economy of 9.03.
JAP vs AFG, Asian Games 2026, Match 1 Captain picks
Darwish Rasooli
Darwish Rasooli, the Afghanistan skipper, has amassed 256 runs in his last 10 T20Is at an average of 28.44 and a strike rate of 139.13.
Mohammad Ishaq
Mohammad Ishaq has scored 104 runs in eight T20Is and would be aiming to better his numbers in this fixture.
JAP vs AFG, Asian Games 2026, Match 1 Head-to-head Dream11 team
Mohammad Ishaq, Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Darwish Rasooli (c), Benjamin Ito-Davis, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Ismat Alam, Nangyal Kharoti, Abdollah Ahmadzai (vc), Farmanullah Safi
JAP vs AFG, Asian Games 2026, Match 1 Grand League Dream11 team
Mohammad Ishaq (c), Mohammad Akram, Hassan Eisakhil, Darwish Rasooli, Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming, Najibullah Zadran, Karim Janat, Ismat Alam, Nangyal Kharoti, Abdollah Ahmadzai, Farmanullah Safi (vc)
