Asian Games-2010

[Diana]

Indian cricket team to skip Asian Games
Last updated on: June 01, 2010 17:07 IST



India [ Images ] won't be sending a team for this year's Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India made an official announcement to this regard on Tuesday.

"We will not be able to send our team, either men or women, for the Asian Games in China because of our other international commitments," BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty confirmed.

"We have communicated the same to the Indian Olympic [ Images ] Association," he added.

The 16th Asiad, scheduled to be held from November 12 to 27, will witness cricket making its debut in its popular Twenty20 [ Images ] variant.

The Gentleman's Game's debut at the Asiad was approved at the Olympic Council of Asia's General Assembly in Kuwait recently and Monday (May 31, 2010) was the last day to confirm participation.

However, BCCI's decision means not only will the tournament lose its biggest face value -- the sport is more popular in India than any other country -- but also a loss of surefire medal (the colour notwithstanding) for India -- considering the country is not only a powerhouse in Asia, but also the world.

The board, while putting commercial interests above national pride, also reiterated its tacit policy -- of not playing under the aegis of the IOA.

As regards its international commitments, India would indeed be hosting New Zealand [ Images ] -- for three Tests and five one-dayers -- in Novemeber, a corresponding period to the four-year extravaganza.

However, the board could easily have sent a second string side to China.

In fact, the BCCI had done the same in 1998 -- when Mohammad Azharduddin led India for the Sahara Cup series against Pakistan in Toronto while Ajay Jadeja was the skipper of the cricket contingent at the Commonwealth Games [ Images ] at Kuala Lumpur -- the only occasion when cricket was played at the CWG.

But India performed poorly in Malaysia and the critics did murmur about the prospects being affected because of two separate teams.

The BCCI is definitely not willing to take the blame again.

Bikash Mohapatra Mumbai


http://cricket.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/01/indian-cricket-team-to-skip-asian-games.htm

[Diana]

Kumble disappointed by BCCI's snub to Asian Games
June 04, 2010 08:36 IST


Former captain Anil Kumble [ Images ] is disappointed with BCCI's decision not to send teams to the Asian Games in China while star boxer Vijender Singh [ Images ] is so miffed with the board's attitude that he wants cricket to be thrown out of the multi-sport event.

"It is definitely disappointing," said Kumble, who was a member of the Indian cricket team, which took part in the 1998 Commonwealth Games [ Images ] in Kuala Lumpur.

"I was part of the team in the 1998 Commonwealth Games and I certainly enjoyed being part of the athletics community," said the former skipper.

"There I watched (Pullela) Gopichand play badminton and also watched the Indian hockey team play, something I otherwise would never possibly look to do.

"As an Indian player, I would definitely like to play in events like Asian Games or Olympics [ Images ] or Commonwealth Games," Kumble told NDTV.

The former captain was reacting to BCCI's decision not to send either the men's or women's team to the Asian Games scheduled in Guangzhou, China in November where cricket is making its debut.

BCCI cited international commitment as the reason behind not sending teams even though it failed to convince most, including Vijender.

The Beijing [ Images ] Olympic bronze medallist slammed BCCI and said cricket should be scrapped from Asian Games if teams like India [ Images ] snubbed the event.

"If they don't want to play there, cricket should be thrown out of Asian Games," an angry Vijender said.

"If India doesn't participate in cricket, having it there is meaningless," he said.

Vijender was also not convinced by BCCI's reasoning -- international commitments -- for skipping the multi-sport event.

"See, we too have commitments but when it comes to Asian Games or Commonwealth Games or Olympics, we put aside everything else and go there.

"On such occasions, every other commitment is secondary and priority is representing the country. It's about national pride," added Vijender.

http://cricket.rediff.com/report/2010/jun/04/kumble-disappointed-by-bccis-snub-to-asian-games.htm

[River_Panthera]

I guess it's the same problem as with soccer at the olympics- it isn't considered important enough, so most of good players don't play.