Cricket should not be part of Asian Games, says Gill

Sports Minister M.S. Gill Wednesday refrained from taking a stance on the decision of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to send the teams to the November Asian Games, but was of the view that cricket should not be part of the multi-discipline event.

“What programme the BCCI is going to play is their business to decide and they are deciding it,” Gill said. “As an individual, I am not sure cricket should be in the Asian Games.”

Gill said the BCCI’s hectic calendar does not leave players with much rest.

“There are so many tournaments that the boys are simply too tired. Even race horses should be rested,” he said.

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.

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.