How one India T20I could become Japanese cricket's defining moment
The Japan Cricket Association is using an upcoming T20I match against India as a pivotal moment to increase the sport's visibility in Japan. Despite the dominance of other sports like baseball, the JCA hopes the match will help cricket gain mainstream legitimacy.
Why it matters
International sporting events serve as a catalyst for cultural exchange and the growth of niche sports in new markets.
NEW DELHI: Alan Curr has stopped counting how many hats he's worn this week.On Sunday morning, with a typhoon on the horizon, the Japan Cricket Association (JCA) COO pulled covers off the wicket. Later, he was putting up hospitality tents, checking security plans and helping transform a quaint cricket ground with 500 permanent seats into a venue worthy of hosting the reigning T20I world champions. By Tuesday, weather permitting, India will walk out against Japan in the country's first-ever men's senior international against a Full Member.For Japanese cricket, getting here is success in itself and the scoreline almost secondary."A lot of success has almost already happened," Curr says.
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