India and Japan will play a one-off T20I match in Japan on September 22. The match will be part of the celebrations for 75 years of India-Japan diplomatic relations. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) announced the match on Friday. It will be the first international cricket match between India and Japan.
Historic Match in Tochigi
The game will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture. It will give Japan the chance to host the Indian men’s team for the first time. The match is also linked to India’s plan to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036. The BCCI said the game will be the first step in the “Sport 75” initiative.
“Sport 75” comes from an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. The initiative aims to increase people-to-people contact and cooperation between the two countries through sport.
BCCI Welcomes the Fixture
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia said the board is happy to be part of the historic event. He said the match will take Indian cricket to a new country and help introduce the sport to more people in Japan and East Asia.
” The BCCI is delighted to be part of this historic occasion as the Indian and Japanese men’s teams come together for a special T20 International in Japan. 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.”
Saikia also spoke about the relationship between India and Japan. He thanked the Japan Cricket Association for helping make the match possible and said cricket will be part of the 75th anniversary celebrations.
“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, and we thank the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) for its efforts in making this fixture possible.”
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Japan Ready to Welcome India
Saikia said the BCCI wants cricket to grow outside its traditional countries. He added that the board will work with the JCA to support the growth of cricket in Japan in the coming years. Japan Cricket Association CEO Naoki Miyaji called India’s visit a landmark moment for the association. He thanked the BCCI and said the JCA is looking forward to welcoming Indian cricket fans.
“To be able to invite the reigning World Champions to the home of cricket in Japan is a landmark moment for our association. We thank the BCCI for working with us towards this goal and greatly look forward to welcoming the passion of Indian cricket fans, and 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.”
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