Cricket will be one of the major attractions at the Asian Games 2023. The upcoming edition of the continental showpiece in Hangzhou, the People’s Republic of China, will see the sport return to the Asian Games itinerary after a gap of nine years. 

Cricket made its Asian Games debut at Guangzhou 2010 and also featured at the 2014 edition held in Incheon. The format at the Asian Games has been T20 Cricket.

Bangladesh won the men’s cricket gold medal at Guangzhou while Sri Lanka emerged as champions in 2014. In women’s cricket, Pakistan won the gold at both editions.

Cricket was dropped from the 2018 Asian Games held in Jakarta.

For the 19th edition of the Asian Games, to be held from September 23 to October 8, cricket matches have been accorded international status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) for the first time. Both men’s and women’s cricket will be played in the T20 International (T20I) format.

India have never participated in the Asian Games cricket tournament and will not field teams at Hangzhou 2023 as well due to prior international commitments.

Here’s a look at all the cricket records set at the Asian Games so far.

Asian Games cricket records

Highest team total in Asian Games cricket

Men: The Bangladesh men’s cricket team hammered 224 for 9 in 20 overs against Kuwait during the quarter-finals of the 2014 Asian Games. It remains the only time a team has scored over 200 runs in the continental event. 

Women: The record for the highest team total in women’s cricket at the Asian Games belongs to Sri Lanka. The Lankans put on 149/5 against Hong Kong in the quarter-finals of the 2014 Incheon Games.

Most runs in Asian Games cricket

Men: Pakistani batter Khalid Latif is the highest scorer in men’s cricket at the Asian Games, having scored 182 runs in three matches – all at Guangzhou 2010. He did not feature in the 2014 Asian Games but still holds the record.

Women: Japan’s Ema Kuribayashi is the highest run scorer in women’s cricket at the Asian Games with 163 runs in six matches. She played in both the editions.

Highest individual score in Asian Games cricket

Men: Khalid Latif of Pakistan is the only centurion at the Asian Games. He scored an unbeaten 103 against China in the 2010 quarter-finals – the highest individual score recorded by any batsman at the Asian Games.

Women: Ema Kuribayashi’s match-winning 63 vs Nepal in the 2010 repechage round is the highest score by a batter in women’s cricket at the continental meet.

Highest partnership in Asian Games cricket

Men: Sri Lankan batters Upul Tharanga and Dinesh Chandimal stitched together a 126-run partnership for the second wicket against the Republic of Korea in the 2014 quarter-finals. It is the only 100-plus partnership in the Asian Games.

Women: An unbeaten 93-run stand between Pakistani openers Nida Dar and Javeria Khan against Bangladesh in the 2010 final is the highest partnership in women’s cricket at the Asian Games. 

Biggest win in Asian Games cricket (by run margin)

Men: The Bangladesh men’s cricket team posted a massive score of 224/9 in 20 overs against Kuwait in the 2014 edition and bundled out the opposition for a paltry 21. The 203-run victory is the biggest win in terms of runs at the Asian Games.

Women: Sri Lanka bowled out Hong Kong for 67 runs after putting on 149/7 on board in the 2014 quarter-finals. Sri Lanka won the game by 82 runs –  the biggest win in the women’s competition at the continental event so far.

Best bowling figures in Asian Games cricket

Men: Sohrawordi Shuvo of Bangladesh took four wickets for six runs (4/6) against Sri Lanka in four overs in the semi-finals of the 2010 edition to register the best figures in Asian Games men’s cricket.

Women: In women’s cricket, China’s Xiang Raun took 5/9 against Korea in a group game for best bowling figures.

Most wickets in Asian Games cricket

Men: Hong Kong’s Nadeem Ahmed, with 12 wickets from eight matches (two editions), is the leading wicket-taker in men’s cricket at the Asian Games.

Women: Nida Dar of Pakistan has picked up 13 wickets in seven outings (two editions) and is the top wicket-taker in women’s cricket at the Asian Games.

Lowest team total in Asian Games cricket

Men: Kuwait’s 20/10 against Nepal in the 2014 group game is the lowest team total in the men’s cricket tournament at the Asian Games.

Women: The unsavory record belongs to Hong Kong, who were bundled out for 25 against Bangladesh in the 2010 group game.