The Indian men’s and women’s cricket teams are likely to be seen in action at the Asian Games 2023, The Indian Express reported on Saturday (June 24).
According to the report, the BCCI is planning to field the two teams in what will be a T20 contest. The event is slated to be held in Hangzhou, China from September 23 to October 8.
The report also claims that the men’s team will be a ‘B Squad’ as the main team will be participating in the 50-over World Cup, scheduled to be played in India from October 5 to November 23.
On the other hand, the first-string women’s team will feature in the Asian Games. The BCCI will be reportedly forwarding the list of players to the Indian Olympic Association before June 30.
While cricket was part of the 2010 and 2014 editions of the Asian Games, India didn’t field a team. In 2018, cricket was left out of the Asiad in Jakarta but it is set to return in China this year.
As per the report, the BCCI had cited prior commitments as the reason for not fielding the men’s and women’s teams in the continental event previously.
“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,” India’s chef de mission for the Asian Games, Bhupender Bajwa had told the national daily.
If India’s men’s cricket team travels to China for the Asian Games then it won’t be the first time when two separate Indian teams will play at the same time. In 2021, the BCCI had sent a second-string team to Sri Lanka for six white-ball fixtures when the Virat Kohli-led side was playing a Test series in England.
The Indian players are currently enjoying a much-needed break from the game. India’s next assignment is the tour of West Indies, comprising two Tests, three ODIs and five T20Is, slated to be played from July 12 to August 13.
Subsequently, the Indian team will travel to Ireland for three T20Is followed by the Asia Cup 2023 from August 31 to September 17.
