Amidst all the (overly optimistic?) talk of cricket getting entry as an Olympic sport as early as the 2028 Games in Los Angeles, the BCCI, the game’s global superpower, is not exactly making a great case for the sport’s inclusion.
Case in point being the upcoming Asian Games in Hangzhou, at which T20 cricket has been included as a medal-contending discipline for both men’s and women’s teams.
While all cricket playing nations in the continent will be represented at the marquee event, the absence of Indian men’s and women’s teams will stand out in stark relief.
India will be represented in all disciplines barring cricket, where the nation would have had a realistic chance of winning Gold in both men’s and women’s events.
The BCCI has cited prior commitments as the reason for not sending teams to the Asian Games, which were originally scheduled to be held last year but had to be postponed due to China’s failed zero Covid-19 policy.
The Hangzhou Asian Games will be held from September 23 to October 28, and due to the prior commitments of both the Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams, neither of the Indian contingents will take part in the continental spectacle.
India’s chef de mission for the Asian Games, Bhupender Bajwa confirmed to Indian Express that the BCCI had informed the Indian Olympic Association that due to other commitments, they would not be able to send teams for the Games.
“We had received the mail from IOA just one day before the deadline. At the same time, the BCCI already has finalised the FTP for women’s cricket. During the Asian Games, our team won’t be available as they will be playing in a tournament,” the daily quoted a BCCI official as saying.
While the Indian women’s team will be playing against South Africa and New Zealand during September-October, the men’s team will be preparing for the ODI World Cup at home with the cricket spectacle set to be hosted in the nation during October and November.
It bears noting that in the past the BCCI has fielded two teams which competed in separate events that clashed timewise. In 2021, when the Shikhar Dhawan-led second-string side faced off against Sri Lanka in 2021, the “A” team led by Virat Kohli were engaged in a Test series against England in the UK. A similar scenario unfolded last year as well when the Hardik Pandya-led Indian team played against Ireland while the senior team was in England.
As already noted, BCCI’s decision to skip the Asian Games comes at a time when the sport is being pushed for inclusion at the Olympics. Pertinently, shortly after the conclusion of the Asian Games, on 15, 16 and 17 October, Mumbai will play host to the 140th Session of the International Olympic Committee. At the IOC Executive Board (EB) meeting, cricket’s inclusion in the quadrennial event is reportedly expected to be discussed.
