Mumbai: Cricket has elicited lukewarm response from the full ICC members of the continent for the upcoming Incheon Asian Games with India skipping the event altogether and Pakistan electing to send only its women's team.
"For upcoming 2014 Asian Games, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka will be sending both men and women's cricket teams," it has been mentioned on the FaceBook page of the Games. "As for Pakistan, they will be sending women’s cricket team only," it adds.
Indian Cricket Board (BCCI) has already decided that it would not send any team (men or women) to the quadrennial pan-Asian sports spectacle that is to be hosted by South Korea for the third time (earlier editions: 1986 in Seoul and 2002 in Busan).
India had not sent any team for the Games in the previous edition four years ago at Guangzhou, China, where cricket made its debut. Bangladesh men and Pakistan women won the gold medals in the 16th Asian Games.
Cricket will be run from September 20 to October 3 in the 17th Games in Incheon whose organisers were persuaded to keep it in the schedule by the Olympic Council of Asia.
BCCI Secretary Sanjay Patel told PTI that the mens' calendar is so tight that there was no way they could have taken part. "The calendar is very tight. We have the Champions Trophy clashing with the Games and no approval had been taken from the Working Committee for sending teams for the Asian Games," he said.
The following teams have entered the tournament, according to Asian Cricket Council.
Women’s teams: South Korea, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand.
Men’s teams: South Korea, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Maldives, Nepal, Sri Lanka.
