Cricket will once again feature in the Asian Games during the 2022 edition of the showpiece event in Hangzhou. The development comes across as a pleasant surprise as our great sport was dropped from the overall programme of the regional affair one year back in Indonesia despite being played at Guangzhou and Incheon in 2010 and 2014 respectively albeit without India available for the contest. 

As per a report from insidethegames.biz, the decision was taken at the Olympic Council of Asia's General Assembly. It is learnt that Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will again be sent an invitation for which they can take their own time in deliberation. And having earlier cited the gruelling schedule as one of the reasons behind their disagreement of participation, the Indian Cricket board will hopefully have enhanced regard for the overall health of the game. 

"There is a lot of time to go for 2022 Asian Games. In due time, we will discuss and decide," an anonymous BCCI official told PTI.

The decision to include cricket in the 2022 programme was more probable after OCA honorary vice-president Randhir Singh visited Hangzhou last month to finalise a suitable venue.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan won the men's and women's gold in 2014 while Bangladesh and Pakistan claimed the top honours in 2010. The tournament will remain a T20I competition. 

But eight years back, OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah had criticised the BCCI for not sending its teams for the second edition in a row.

"I'm sorry that India, for the second Games, did not send a team," he was quoted saying then. "I respect their decision but I believe the people in charge are not interested in the promotion of the game but only in making it a business, in making money out of it. They want to control the market and control the game."