By IANS,
New Delhi : Secretary General of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Randhir Singh called the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to send teams for the Asian Games as a “setback for cricket in India and Asia.”
Cricket is making its debut at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in November and Randhir, also the secretary-general of Indian Olympic Association (IOA), said they are disappointed by the BCCI’s decision.
The BCCI said Tuesday it would not field the men’s and women’s teams at the Nov 12-27 Asian Games due to prior commitments. The men’s team is due to host New Zealand in November.
“It is very disappointing. India’s participation would have been good for cricket in Asia. It is the first time cricket has been included. The Asian Cricket Council lobbied very hard to include cricket in schedule and when China agreed to do so, India has pulled out,” Randhir told IANS.
“It is a setback for cricket in India and Asia.”
Randhir said they got no intimation from the BCCI about the decision.
Cricket was included in the Asian Games by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) only after the four Asian Test nations — India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh — promised to send their best teams to the Games.
“I was informed only through press. We were not informed about their decision. If BCCI had to take this step, then they should have informed us earlier,” he added.
With India pulling out, there are grave doubts over Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s participation as well.
The BCCI cited prior commitments as the reason for not fielding the men’s and women’s teams at the Nov 12-27 Games. The men’s team is due to host New Zealand in November.
BCCI chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty said: “We would not be able to send our teams, both men and women, for the Asian Games in China because of international commitments. We have communicated the same to the Indian Olympic Association.”
The controversial ‘whereabouts’ clause in the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) had also threatened India’s participation in major multi-discipline events like the Asian Games. The Indian players have rejected the code because the BCCI sees the clause as an infringement on privacy.
“India and Pakistan were the drivers. Asia’s four Test-playing nations have committed to sending their best available teams,” OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah had said while announcing that Twenty20 format would be played at the Guangzhou Games.
With India pulling out, there are grave doubts over Pakistan and Sri Lanka’s participation as well.
Pakistan would play a Test and one-day series against South Africa from Oct 25 to Nov 25, while Sri Lanka will host the West Indies during the same period.