BCCI to field the Indian Men And Women’s Cricket team in the forthcoming Asian Games in China’s Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8. India team will send a second-string side for the continental event as the main squad will be playing the ODI World Cup 2023 in India.
The Women’s team is expected to be full strength squad for the Asian Games, as they will be up against the arch-rivals Pakistan and other Asian teams for the elusive Gold Medal in the event. The matches are expected to be played in the 20-over format of the game.
According to the reports in Indian Express, The BCCI will be giving the list of players to the Indian Olympic Association before June 30. The players who have performed well in the Indian Premier League and domestic cricket are expected to be given the opportunity in the absence of the key Indian players in the team.
Cricket was part of two editions of the Asian Games, in 2010 and 2014, but India did not field a team, and Earlier, the BCCI official commented that they will send the team to the Asian Games 2023, as the team will look to play on prior commitments.
“We have entries in all sports except one – cricket (team) isn’t going, 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.” Bhupender Bajwa said
Addition of the Indian Cricket team in the Asian Games 2023 will be bringing a lot of value to the Indian Sports, as the stakes of the games will rise up. Notably, India women’s cricket team featured in the 2022 Commonwealth Games where they won the Silver medal after a defeat against Australia in the finals of the games.
The Asian Games were originally planned to take place in September 2022, but were later postponed by one year because of the Covid 19 Pandemic. Both men’s and women’s tournaments will be held in the event. Prior to this edition, cricket was last played at the Asian Games in 2014.
Both Men and Women’s team will look to win the elusive Gold Medal going up against the big Asian teams in the event. The 15-day-long continental showpiece, shifted from 2022 to 2023 due to COVID-19, will feature 40 sports this year, with Asia’s best competing for top honours.