Asian Games cricket hit by India withdrawal
NEW DEHLI:
Cricket’s debut at the Asian Games this year suffered a body blow yesterday as India pulled out while top stars from Pakistan and Sri Lanka were also set to miss the competition.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it would not field the men’s and women’s teams at the November 12 to 27 Games in the Chinese city of Guangzhou because of prior commitments.
“We would not be able to send our team, both men and women, for the Asian Games in China because of international commitments,” said BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty.
India has huge cricket-mad television audiences, making the team an attractive proposition for any organiser. But the national side is due to host New Zealand in November.
There were also grave doubts if two other Asian Test nations - Pakistan and Sri Lanka - would field their top cricketers as they will also be busy with their own international commitments.
“The Asian Cricket Council worked really hard to get cricket included in the Games,” said Olympic Council of Asia secretary-general Randhir Singh. “But the BCCI is an independent sports body. We can’t force them to play.”
The Guangzhou Games will feature 42 disciplines, with cricket, dance sport, dragon boat racing, and roller sport added to the agenda. More than 14,000 athletes from 45 countries are expected to take part.
Published in the Express Tribune, 2010.
Cricket’s debut at the Asian Games this year suffered a body blow yesterday as India pulled out while top stars from Pakistan and Sri Lanka were also set to miss the competition.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said it would not field the men’s and women’s teams at the November 12 to 27 Games in the Chinese city of Guangzhou because of prior commitments.
“We would not be able to send our team, both men and women, for the Asian Games in China because of international commitments,” said BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty.
India has huge cricket-mad television audiences, making the team an attractive proposition for any organiser. But the national side is due to host New Zealand in November.
There were also grave doubts if two other Asian Test nations - Pakistan and Sri Lanka - would field their top cricketers as they will also be busy with their own international commitments.
“The Asian Cricket Council worked really hard to get cricket included in the Games,” said Olympic Council of Asia secretary-general Randhir Singh. “But the BCCI is an independent sports body. We can’t force them to play.”
The Guangzhou Games will feature 42 disciplines, with cricket, dance sport, dragon boat racing, and roller sport added to the agenda. More than 14,000 athletes from 45 countries are expected to take part.
Published in the Express Tribune, 2010.