It is official. Cricket is now one of the sports for the Asian Games and it has been accorded this status after a decision about the same was taken when the Olympic Council of Asia endorsing the decision, subsequent to the assurance given by India and Pakistan that they would be sending their best available teams. So Cricket would make its debut in Guangzhou next year.

It seems that the T20 format has become the flavour of the season, as Cricket in the Asian Games would be based on Twenty20 format and both men's and women's teams will participate in it. India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have automatically qualified, along with host nation China. Other members of the Asian Games fraternity would have to play a qualifying round to fight for three additional spots. It was informed by OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Sabah that the four Test-playing nations, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, would be sending their best available teams.

 The 2010 Asian Games is scheduled to take place from November 12-27 in the southern Chinese city Guangzhou. After it made its debut as a major multi-sport event at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, but subsequently dropped for the next two editions in England and Australia, it would be making its debut in the Asian Games in China in the 16 edition of the game.

Its only appearance at the Olympics was in Paris in 1900, where in a two-day match Great Britain -- represented by touring team Devon and Somerset Wanderers - beat France, whose team mainly consisted of members of the British Embassy.

Cricket Indonesia has welcomed this decision with joy and its advisory board chairman, Sachin Gopalan, has christened the initiative an opportunity for the nation to push its cricket game to a new level. They hope to compete with countries of the same level such as Singapore and Malaysia. It can, however happen for Indonesia only when Cricket Indonesia becomes a member of Indonesia’s National Sports Committee (KONI).

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

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