‘India has let cricket down’

On Friday, the 16th Asian Games were declared open in this port city. It will be the first ever edition of the Games, which features cricket as an event. But, the decision of the Indian cricket board to give it a skip has taken away the sheen.

India will be the only major Asian nation that will not send a team to Guangzhou.

Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are all participating.

Husain Al-Musallam, director general of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), came down harshly at the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision not to send their team.

“Cricket is connected to India. It is really disappointing that the Indian cricket team is not participating. We had worked very hard to have this event in the Asian Games. It was a perfect opportunity to spread the game in Asia and to let everyone learn it,” he said.

“The BCCI just did not send their team. The world wants to learn it, but India doesn’t want it to happen. Cricket has to start somewhere if it has to be a global game.”

For those who have been trying to include cricket in the Olympics, the Asian Games provided an important platform to establish itself. There’s no doubt, India’s non-participation here has dealt cricket’s Olympic hopes a big blow.