[2024/02/02 Amendment] The match time for the matches that were scheduled to start at 15:30 for the ACC Men’s Challenger Cup have been changed to start at 15:50.

[2024/02/09 Amendment] The match time for the matches that were scheduled to start at 14:30 for the Men’s East Asia Cup have been changed to start at 15:00.

Following the announcement that the Men’s Japan National Team will compete in the ACC Challenger Cup and East Asia Cup this February, the touring teams for each tournament are now confirmed. 

ACC CHALLENGER CUP

Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming will again captain the team, with three members of the successful Japan Under 19 team promoted and aiming to represent Japan for the first time:

• Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (Chiba Sharks Cricket Club)
• Ryan Drake (Sano Cricket Club)
• Koji Hardgrave-Abe (Sano Cricket Club)*
• Charles Hinze (University of Queensland Cricket Club)*
• Kazuma Kato-Stafford (Akishima Aviators Cricket Club)*
• Piyush Kumbhare (Tigers Cricket Club)
• Wataru Miyauchi (Wyverns Cricket Club)
• Sabaorish Ravichandran (Tigers Cricket Club)
• Reo Sakurano-Thomas (Sano Cricket Club)
• Alexander Shirai-Patmore (Tokyo Wombats Cricket Club)
• Declan Suzuki-McComb (Cheltenham Cricket Club)
• Ibrahim Takahashi (Chiba Sharks Cricket Club)
• Makoto Taniyama (MAX Cricket Club / Osaka Raiders Cricket Club)
• Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake (Willetton Dragons Cricket Club)

 *Yet to represent Japan at senior level

The team will travel to Thailand on 31st January and play three group matches. The top two teams in group will progress to the Semi-Finals, with the two finalists qualifying for the ACC Men’s Premier Cup.

The fixtures are scheduled as follows: 

• Thailand vs Japan: Friday 2nd February – 15:50
• Maldives vs Japan: Sunday 4th February – 15:50
• Singapore vs Japan: Tuesday 6th February – 11:30

Knockout matches are scheduled as follows: 

• 5th Place Playoff, 7th Place Playoff: Wednesday 7th February
• Semi-Finals: Friday 9th February
• 3rd Place Playoff, Final: Sunday 11th February

Morning matches commence at 09:30 local time / 11:30 Japan Standard Time, afternoon matches commence at 13:30 local time / 15:50 Japan Standard Time.

All matches will be available to watch live on the Asian Cricket Council YouTube Channel and live scores can be followed on the ACC Match Centre.

EAST ASIA CUP

Following the conclusion of the ACC Challenger Cup, the team will travel to Hong Kong for the long-awaited defence of the Men’s East Asia Cup, last played in 2018.

There will be two changes to the travelling team as Piyush Kumbhare and Alex Shirai-Patmore have work commitments, meaning an opportunity for Muneeb Siddique Mian and Marcus Thurgate. 

The full travelling team is as follows:

• Kendel Kadowaki-Fleming (Chiba Sharks Cricket Club)
• Ryan Drake (Sano Cricket Club)
• Koji Hardgrave-Abe (Sano Cricket Club)*
• Charles Hinze (University of Queensland Cricket Club)*
• Kazuma Kato-Stafford (Akishima Aviators Cricket Club)*
• Muneeb Siddique Mian (Chiba Sharks Cricket Club) 
• Wataru Miyauchi (Wyverns Cricket Club)
• Sabaorish Ravichandran (Tigers Cricket Club)
• Reo Sakurano-Thomas (Sano Cricket Club)
• Declan Suzuki-McComb (Cheltenham Cricket Club)
• Ibrahim Takahashi (Chiba Sharks Cricket Club)
• Makoto Taniyama (MAX Cricket Club / Osaka Raiders Cricket Club)
• Marcus Thurgate (Chiba Sharks Cricket Club)
• Lachlan Yamamoto-Lake (Willetton Dragons Cricket Club)

 *Yet to represent Japan at senior level

This will be a three-team tournament with hosts Hong Kong alongside China and Japan. Unfortunately Korea is unavailable to participate this time. 

Each team will play each other twice before a final on February 17th. The full schedule is as follows:

• Hong Kong vs Japan: Wednesday 14th February – 15:00 
• China vs Japan: Thursday 15th February – 10:00
• Hong Kong vs Japan: Thursday 15th February – 15:00  
• China vs Japan: Friday 16th February – 15:00
• FINAL: Saturday 17th February – 10:00

All matches are scheduled to be live-streamed. Follow JCA’s official social media for further information and updates.

All matches will be shown on the Cricket Hong Kong YouTube Channel.

Please join us in wishing the players good luck for this next challenge!

JCA Official Social Media