‘Make Riyan Parag captain’ -Fans react as reports of Indian management sending men’s and women’s Teams for Asian Games surface
Cricket was a part of the Asian Games in 2010 and 2014.
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Jun 24, 2023 12:44 pm
Indian Cricket Team (Source: Twitter)
The Indian Cricket Board will field two teams for the Asian Games, as per the Indian Express. One will be a Men’s Team and another a Women’s Team. The Indian men’s team will be a B Team as the star players will be busy with 2023 ODI World Cup duties. But when it comes to the Women’s side, the full-strength team will participate in the Asian Games.
The Asian Games in Hangzhou, China, are scheduled from September 23 to October 8, followed by the 2023 ODI World Cup from October 5 to November 23. The Indian Cricket Board will give out the players list to the Indian Olympic Association before June 30. Regarding cricket and the Asian Games, the sport was a part of the games in 2010, and the 2014 editions, but no Indian side was part of the games.
The Indian management had earlier cited prior commitments for not sending a team to the Asian Games
Cricket was not a part of the Asian Games at Jakarta, but it is making a comeback for the upcoming edition. The Asian Games were supposed to be played in 2022 but could not happen due to China’s zero covid policy. Though reports are stating that a Women’s Team will be sent at full strength, proper clarity is still awaited on the matter.
“We have entries in all sports except one – cricket (team) isn’t going,” India’s chef de mission for the Asian Games, Bhupender Bajwa, had said to The Indian Express earlier. “They said they are preoccupied. We sent around 3-4 emails to them, but when we had to send entries to the organisers, they said they won’t go.” The Indian Cricket Board cited prior commitments as the main reason behind not fielding a side for the games.
India fielded two teams in 2021, Shikhar Dhawan led a second-string side against Sri Lanka, while Virat Kohli led the senior players against England. Similarly, in 1998, one team played in Malaysia while Azharuddin captained another in the Sahara Cup.
