Cricketers to switch to Baseball for Asian Games, Olympics? Sports Ministry breaks silence

Indian Sports Ministry has rubbished the rumors of turning cricketers into baseball players to make them compete at the Asian Games or Olympics for medals. The reports in PTI claimed that Baseball is not even recognized by the ministry.

Of late, there have been a lot of rumours that the Indian Sports Ministry is planning to turn a massive pool of aspiring cricketers into baseball players. This is because they want to give importance to other games in search of medals in the Asian Games or Olympics.

Idea to turn cricketers into baseball players came up for discussion at the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting - Reports

It was learned that the idea to turn them into baseball players came up for discussion at the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting earlier this week. This became a massive talking point since then and invited different reactions from the people close to the developments.

However, a source close to the ministry said that reports of discussion at the Mission Olympic Cell (MOC) meeting were false as Baseball is not even considered by the Ministry. He said that the Sports Authority of India didn't have any discussions and they are busy improving the sports in the country.

This is completely imaginary. Baseball is not even recognised by the ministry - Source

Speaking to PTI, he said:

"This is completely imaginary. Baseball is not even recognised by the ministry. Why will SAI (Sports Authority of India) get into cricket or turn cricket players into baseball players?”

"This was not discussed at the MOC meeting. We are busy ensuring that we improve and build upon sports in which we are doing reasonably well, there is no time to get involved in something like this."

Why would any aspiring cricketer turn to baseball? Is it a commercially viable career option? - BCCI official

Even a senior BCCI official shared his take on the matter. He confirmed that there isn't a plan to turn cricketers into Baseball players, adding that with T20 leagues offering money, players won't agree to this either. Speaking to PTI, he said:

"Why would any aspiring cricketer turn to baseball? Is it a commercially viable career option? And especially when you have options like the IPL and state T20 leagues. Even the unofficial tennis-ball leagues are offering close to Rs 40-50 lakh per annum."

Baseball has been a part of the Asian Games since 1994 and the Olympic Games since 1992. However, India hasn't participated in the event ever. Although, there is the Amateur Baseball Federation of India but it isn't recognized by the sports ministry and doesn't get any funding from the government.

Cricket, on the other hand, is the biggest sport in the country. Young players get a lot of financial support from the game by playing in T20 leagues, domestic cricket, as well as on the international stage. Also, the game is all set to be played in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics in the T20 format.

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