Sports

Broadcast Deal Pending for Historic India-Japan Cricket Clash

By Vijay Tagore

Organisers are working to finalise broadcast arrangements for the upcoming one-off cricket match between India and Japan, scheduled for September 22 at Sano International Stadium in Tochigi Prefecture. The Japan Cricket Association (JCA) is negotiating with ITW Universe to secure broadcast rights for the fixture, which coincides with the Asian Games taking place in Aichi-Nagoya, creating logistical challenges for producers.

According to sources, the JCA is close to finalising a memorandum of understanding with ITW Universe regarding broadcast rights. Initially, plans called for a simple YouTube live stream using minimal production equipment, given the difficulty of attracting broadcasters for a contest between two teams of differing skill levels. While a global YouTube stream remains possible, Indian audiences may be able to watch the match through traditional broadcast channels instead.

No agreement has been finalised yet, but FanCode—a digital sports platform that has previously partnered with the JCA on developmental tournaments—is reportedly among the candidates being considered for streaming rights. ITW Universe is also said to be negotiating with major broadcasters including Star, Sony, and Zee for television rights.

The match is set to begin at 9:30 am IST (1 pm local Japan time). Complicating matters, the women's gold-medal match at the Asian Games is scheduled to start just an hour later at Korogi Athletic Park in Nisshin City, Aichi. Since the Indian women's team is considered a strong contender to reach the final, there is a real possibility of scheduling overlap between the men's and women's events. Sony holds broadcasting rights for the Asian Games overall.

Organisers had considered moving the India-Japan match to September 23 to avoid this conflict, but logistical constraints tied to the Japanese men's team's Asian Games schedule made this unfeasible. The team must travel to Aichi the following day to prepare for their opening group-stage match against Afghanistan on September 24. The distance between Sano and Aichi is roughly 400 kilometers.

The Indian squad is expected to arrive in Sano on September 20, with a practice session planned for September 21 ahead of the anticipated historic encounter. Following the match, the team may remain in Sano for several days before departing for Aichi to compete in the Asian Games, where their first match—a quarter-final—is scheduled for September 28.

Separately, the JCA announced plans to upgrade the Sano International Cricket Ground for the occasion. Although the venue currently has a seating capacity of 500, organisers aim to expand facilities to accommodate as many as 2,000 spectators for the match.