Cricket Set to Make Entry Into Asian Games 2022 After Getting Dropped in 2018 - Reports

Cricket could make its entry into the 2022 Asian Games set to be played in Hangzhou. It was included in the sports programme as per the media reports in Bangkok on Sunday. The decision was mulled at the Olympic Council of Asia’s General Assembly, sports website “insidethegames.biz” reported. In fact, cricket was dropped from 2018 Asian games which were played in Indonesia.

Meanwhile, cricket was played in the 2010 and 2014 Asian Games. However, India had not participated in those two editions of the Asian games. India had pulled out of the mega event because of their tight International schedule.

India didn’t participate in 2010 and 2014.

In fact, the 2022 Asian Games are likely to be played in the T20 format likewise in the case of 2010 and 2014 editions. The 2010 and 2014 Asian Games were hosted by Guangzhou and Incheon respectively.

A BCCI official confirmed that they will think about participating in the event but there is a lot of time to take the final decision.

“There is a lot of time to go for 2022 Asian Games. In due time, we will discuss and decide,” a BCCI official told PTI.

Sri Lanka’s men and Pakistan’s women team had won in 2014 whereas Bangladesh and Pakistan took the podium position in 2010.

Australia is also given an invitation.

In the 2014 Asian Games, OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah had lashed out at the BCCI for pulling out of the quadrennial event.

“I’m sorry that India, for the second Games, did not send a team. I respect their decision but I believe the people in charge are not interested in promotion of the game but only in making it a business, in making money out of it. They want to control the market and control the game,” he had said.

Meanwhile, it is also reported that the OCA General Assembly will send an invitation to Oceania countries like Australia to participate in the 2022 Asian Games.