Indian cricket teams will not take part in the Asian Games, it was announced here on Tuesday.
“We will not be able to send our teams, both men and women, for the Asian Games in China because of international commitments,” Ratnakar Shetty, chief administrative officer of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, told reporters here.
“We have communicated the same to the Indian Olympic Association,” Shetty said.
The 16th edition of the Games will be held in Guangzhou, China, from November 12 to 27 and the BCCI’s backing out amounts to missing a couple of potential medals.
Cricket’s debut at the Asian Games was approved at the Olympic Council of Asia’s general assembly in Kuwait recently and Monday was the last day to confirm participation.
Around the time of the Asian Games, Team India will be busy with a home series against New Zealand, who will be here for three Tests and five ODIs.
Countries that are expected to send cricket teams for the Games include Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. This year’s Asian Games will feature 42 disciplines, 14 more than in the Olympics.
Meanwhile, IOA secretary-general Randhir Singh lashed out at the BCCI. “I’m very, very disappointed," he said. "It really hurts because we were really keen to have cricket in this multi-discipline event. On behalf of the IOA, we will write a letter to the BCCI tomorrow and ask them to reconsider their decision.”
Singh, also the secretary-general of the Olympic Council of Asia, said the onus was now on the Asian Cricket Council to take up the matter with the Indian board.
“The ACC worked really hard to get cricket included in the Asian Games. So it is the ACC’s responsibility to take up the issue with the BCCI. It will be a big embarrassment for the OCA if India do not participate,” Singh said.
“This is particularly sad because cricket is a major sport in our country and we expected medals from the Asian Games. China built great facilities for cricket. So the Indian board’s decision is unfortunate because all other cricket-playing Asian countries will participate,” Singh said.
