OCA chief lambasts Indian cricket board for Asiad snub

INCHEON: : Sending the cricket team to the Asian Games has always been sensitive for the Indian board. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) president, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, didn’t conceal his disappointment with BCCI.

He told a media conference: “This is the second time they have not sent the team. Though I respect their decision, it is my personal opinion that they are not interested in promoting the sport in the continent... they are only interested in making it a business and making money out of it.” India not sending the teams is becoming a sore point with OCA especially because countries like South Korea and China are embracing the sport but the leaders of cricket in the subcontinent are missing.

Sheikh Ahmad said India was killing the cricket market in Asia by limiting the country’s participation. “It is a fact they are only looking at the financial prospects and how best to control the game. By holding the baby too close to their chest, they are not allowing the baby to grow.”

Though he wants all disciplines to grow, the way India was behaving was why cricket was popular in only a few Commonwealth countries.

He said it was OCA’s philosophy that whenever it included a sport in the games, it wanted the best athletes to compete. “I am sorry that the Indian delegate did not attend. If this attitude continues, cricket will never become part of Olympics.”

There have been calls for India to at least send the women’s team as they have few international assignments, but the board has not acceded even to that. The BCCI says its players have an extremely busy schedule and cannot commit to any more assignments. In fact, the Incheon Games clashed with the Champions League T20.