The one-off T20I between India and Japan will be played at Sano International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday at 10:00am Bangladesh time as part of celebrations marking the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Japan are currently ranked 41st in the ICC T20I rankings, while India sit at the top. Outside ICC tournament qualifiers, this will be the first international meeting between two teams separated by such a wide gap in the rankings.
India will enter the match as clear favourites, but Japan are determined to make the most of the historic opportunity. Japan all-rounder Benjamin Ito-Davis challenged his team to compete against the world champions in an interview with ICC Digital.
“I can’t wait to get out there and take on this challenge. I’m really looking forward to it. Representing Japan on the world stage and helping to grow cricket in Japan is something I feel incredibly honoured and proud of,” Ito-Davis said.
“As a team, we want to show that we can compete against a team like India and play in a fair and respectful manner while displaying the Japanese spirit and Japanese way.”
The match will also serve as a final preparation opportunity for both sides ahead of the cricket competition at the upcoming Asian Games.
