Reports | Cricket might return in next edition of Asian Games
After being dropped from the previous edition, cricket might make a comeback in the 2022 Asian Games as it is known to have been included in the programme for the next Asiad to be played in Hangzhou, China. Meanwhile, a BCCI official has said that the board will think about India’s participation.
The 2022 Asian Games will have cricket as a part of the sports programme. According to a report by sports website insidethegames.biz, this decision was taken at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)’s General Assembly. Cricket was a part of the Asian Games in its 2010 and 2014 editions but was excluded from the previous Games in Indonesia.
However, the BCCI had decided not to send the Indian teams for the Games citing the busy schedule and one of the BCCI officials has mentioned that India’s participation in the next Asiad will be discussed later as there is plenty of time remaining.
"There is a lot of time to go for 2022 Asian Games. In due time, we will discuss and decide," a BCCI official told PTI.
Most likely, the T20 format will be played in 2022 as it happened in 2010 and 2014 in Guangzhou and Incheon respectively. OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah had lashed out at the Indian cricket board for not sending its teams for two consecutive Games in 2014.
"I'm sorry that India, for the second Games, did not send a team. I respect their decision but I believe the people in charge are not interested in the promotion of the game but only in making it a business, in making money out of it. They want to control the market and control the game," he had said.
In the General Assembly, it was also announced that Oceania countries including Australia will be invited for the upcoming edition of the Games. However, the number of athletes from Oceania to compete will be decided later.