Why Is There No Player of the Match in Asian Games Cricket? Explained

India Women’s quarter-final against Japan Women at the Asian Games 2026 ended with a comfortable eight-wicket win for India. India won the toss and chose to bowl first, dismissing Japan for just 57. Shree Charani was the standout bowler with four wickets, while one of the best women cricketers, Shafali Verma, played a quick unbeaten knock to help India finish the chase in only five overs.

However, after the match, many fans noticed that there was no Player of the Match award. This surprised viewers because such an award is normally given after most international cricket matches, including T20Is. The absence of the award raised questions about whether it was missed or whether there was a specific reason behind it.

Why Is There No Player of the Match in Asian Games Cricket?

Asian Games cricket follows the competition rules and presentation system of the multi-sport event. It is different from a regular bilateral international series or an ICC tournament, where Player of the Match awards are normally part of the post-match presentation. As a result, even when a player produces an outstanding performance, there may not be an official individual match award presented at the end of an Asian Games fixture.

This was also seen during the previous Asian Games cricket competition in Hangzhou in 2023. The same format is being followed in the 2026 Asian Games. Therefore, the absence of the award after India Women vs Japan Women was expected under the tournament's format. One of the best women's cricket teams, India had several players who could have been considered standout performers in the match.

Shree Charani finished with four wickets after Japan were bowled out for 57, while Shafali Verma took two wickets and then scored an unbeaten 40 from only 15 balls. Despite these performances, neither player received an official Player of the Match award. The main focus of Asian Games cricket is on the team's medal campaign, with teams competing for gold, silver and bronze.