In order to launch the celebrations of the 75th anniversary of India-Japan Diplomatic Relations, the men’s cricket teams of the two countries will face off in a one-off T20I match, the Board of Control for Cricket in India announced on Friday. The first-ever international match between the two teams will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground in Tochigi Prefecture on September 22 later this month.
Taking note of India’s ambition of hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2036, this contest will be the first step of “Sport 75” – an initiative that stems from an agreement reached during a summit between Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and Indian Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and aims to promote human exchanges and cooperation between India and Japan in the field of sports, the board stated in a release.
Speaking on the historic decision, Devajit Saikia, the BCCI secretary said, “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.
“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.
“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. The BCCI will work closely with the JCA to further strengthen cricket in Japan and to build on this relationship in the years ahead.”
Naoki Miyaji, the CEO of Japan Cricket Association, further added, “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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