Japan targets 2028 T20 World Cup qualification after India fixture

Japan Cricket Association chief operating officer Alan Curr set the target after Tuesday's T20I against India: win the East Asia-Pacific regional final and reach the 2028 T20 World Cup global qualifier. The old pathway would have taken them to the 2026 tournament instead.

Curr said different nations bring different colours to a World Cup and hopes the tournament keeps growing. He added that the match against India is an opportunity to show Japanese fans what international cricket looks like.

The fixture is part of the Sport 75 initiative agreed by the Indian and Japanese prime ministers to boost sports cooperation ahead of India's 2036 Olympic bid.