BCCI To Field Men And Women Cricket Teams For Asian Games: Report
The men's team which will compete in Asian Games will be a second-string squad.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had earlier suggested that it might not send it's teams for Asian Games, a recent media report now claims that the Indian cricket board has reconsidered it's decision and will now send both men's and women's teams for the Asian Games where the T20 format of the sport will feature as a discipline.
A report carried out by Indian Express has claimed that the Indian men's team that will feature in Asian Games will be a second string squad with the main squad set to compete in the ODI World Cup scheduled to be played at home. However, all members of the Women's side will be available for selection for the Asian Games in China which means a full-strength side will compete in the Women's category.
Asian Games 2023 is scheduled to be held in Hangzhou from September 23 to October 8. There will be a bit of a clash with the ODI World Cup which will begin on October 5 and run until November 23. The BCCI, as claimed in the same Express report, will send the list of players to the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) before June 30.
It is to be noted that while cricket was part of Asian Games in 2010 and even in 2014, India chose not to field its teams in either of those editions of the tournament. The sport was left out in the 2018 edition of the Asiad in Jakarta but marks a return for the 2023 edition which was originally slated to happen in 2022 but was postponed due to China's zero-Covid policy.
Women's Cricket was played in the T20 format in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year and India won the silver medal and a gold medal will be expected this time, especially from the Women's contingent who happen to be the reigning Asia Cup champions.
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