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Rediff.com  » Cricket » Team India's calendar 'too tight' to participate in Asian Games
This article was first published 9 years ago

Team India's calendar 'too tight' to participate in Asian Games

August 02, 2014 14:56 IST

Image: India captain MS Dhoni receives the winners trophy
Photographs: Michael Steele/Getty Images

Cricket has elicited lukewarm response from the full ICC members of the continent for the upcoming Incheon Asian Games with India skipping the event altogether and Pakistan electing to send only its women's team.

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"For upcoming 2104 Asian Games, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be sending both men and women's cricket teams," it has been mentioned on the Facebook page of the Games.

"As for Pakistan, they will be sending women’s cricket team," it added.

...

India had not sent any team for the Guangzhou Games

Image: Members of India's women's 4x400m relay team celebrate their win at the 16th Asian Games in Guangzhou
Photographs: Reuters

Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has already decided that it would not send any team (men or women) to the quadrennial pan-Asian sports spectacle that is to be hosted by South Korea for the third time (earlier editions: 1986 in Seoul and 2002 in Busan).

India had not sent any team for the Games in the previous edition at Guangzhou, China, where cricket made its debut.

Bangladesh men and Pakistan women won the gold medals in the 16th Asian Games.

...

'Champions Trophy clashing with the Games'

Image: Team India
Photographs: BCCI

Cricket will be played from September 20 to October 3 in the 17th Games in Incheon whose organisers were persuaded to keep it in the schedule by the Olympic Council of Asia.

BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel said that the mens' calendar is so tight that there was no way they could have taken part.

"The calendar is very tight. We have the Champions Trophy clashing with the Games and no approval had been taken from the Working Committee for sending teams for the Asian Games," he said.

...

'Champions Trophy clashing with the Games'

Image: Shakib-al-Hasan of Bangladesh celebrates
Photographs: Andre Biraj/Reuters

The following teams have entered the tournament, according to Asian Cricket Council.

Women’s teams: South Korea, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand

Men’s teams: South Korea, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka.