Later this month, Cricket will take its game to new heights while India go to Japan for a historic T20 international between the two nations. This will be the first international cricket match between the two countries in Sano, Tochigi prefecture on September 22.
India is one of the major names in world cricket, but Japan is still a rising star. The one-off game might then prove to be a significant step for the expansion of cricket in East Asia, as one of the biggest cricket teams in the world comes to a nation that has long been struggling to grow its fan base.
The match will be played at the Sano International Cricket Ground, which affords the Japanese side the chance of playing at their home field against the reigning world champions, which is a rare opportunity for an emerging cricket side.
The fixture has been organised as part of the celebrations to mark the 75th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between India and Japan. But its sporting importance may be more than just an anniversary celebration.
The match will also mark the start of a new programme, dubbed ‘Sport 75′, which aims to promote sporting cooperation and increased exchanges between the two countries. In this first step, Cricket has been selected as one of the platforms where that broader relationship will be realized.
The game is also an opportunity for India to help bring cricket out of its traditional markets. The BCCI has said it will cooperate with the Japan Cricket Association for the future development of cricket.
It may also bring the sport of cricket to more people in Japan. Also, the Japan Cricket Association is hoping that it will attract Indian cricket fans to the sport, too, given that the match will be a big event for Indians.
This is enhanced by the broader context. India is looking forward to hosting the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2036 and sporting collaborations are likely to play an even more significant role in its international engagement.
India will start the game as very strong favourites on the field. For the Japanese cricketers, however, the outcome is not to be the highlight of the event. Even with the presence of one of the world’s largest cricket teams would bring world cricket into the nation’s eyes for the first time.
September 22 will thus be a memorable day in the Indian cricketing calendar. It may be the start of a brand-new association between Indian cricket and one of the developing areas in Asia.
