BCCI not to send cricket teams to Asian Games

By Indian Cricket Fever
June 9 2010

Putting commercial interests above national pride, the BCCI today decided to skip the inaugural cricket tournament in the Asian Games in China citing international commitments. The 16th edition of the Games will be held in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to 27 and BCCI's backing out amounts to missing a couple of potential medals.

"We would not be able to send our team, both men and women, for the Asian Games in China because of international commitments," BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty told reporters here.

"We have communicated the same to the Indian Olympic Association," he said at a media conference to announce the launch of online ticket sales for the 2011 World Cup.

Cricket's debut at the Asian Games was approved at the Olympic Council of Asia's General Assembly in Kuwait recently and yesterday was the last day to confirm participation.

Indian men's team will have a busy time in November as they host New Zealand for three Tests and five ODIs.

The BCCI's reluctance to send cricket teams to multi-discipline events was evident in the 1998 Commonwealth Games where they sent a second-string squad to Kuala Lumpur, while the majority of the frontline cricketers played Pakistan in Toronto, Canada in a best-of-five ODI rubber.

This year's Asian Games will feature 42 disciplines, 14 more than in the Olympics.

Countries which are expected to send cricket teams for the Games include Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Olympic Council of Asia Secretary General Randhir Singh lashed out at the BCCI for the decision not to send teams to the Asian Games in China, saying it poured cold water on Asian Cricket Council's efforts to get cricket included in multi-sport events.

"I'm very, very disappointed because we were really keen to have cricket in multi-discipline events," Randhir told PTI.

"The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) worked really hard to get cricket included in the Asian Games but BCCI's decision is very disappointing," said the OCA top official, who is also the Indian Olympic Association Secretary General.

"This is not the first time that BCCI backed out from a multi-discipline event," Randhir said.

Organisers of the Delhi Commonwealth Games were also keen to have Twenty20 cricket but the BCCI was not.

The Cricket Board insisted it did not want to promote Twenty20 cricket while Commonwealth Games Organising Committee Chairman Suresh Kalmadi said the format could be changed but the BCCI needed to make up their mind if they really wanted cricket in the Games.

"We are not insisting on whether it should be Twenty20 or 50 overs. It is for the ICC (cricket's world governing body) and the BCCI to decide," Kalmadi had said.

© PTI

Posted by: Indian Cricket Fever (IP Logged)

Date: 09/06/2010 20:02

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BCCI not to send cricket teams to Asian Games

Posted by: Max (IP Logged)

Date: 03/06/2010 18:14

This is silly from BCCI. If schedule was an issue, at least send the A team or U-19 team. Maybe the Government needs to step in and force the hand of this corrupt organization.

India - World Cup winners 2011!!!
Champions Trophy winners 2013!!!
Congrats to Indian team and all Indian fans!

Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2010:06:09:20:06:45 by Max.