C'wealth Games still want cricket back
C'wealth Games still want cricket back
The international cricket calendar is too crammed to squeeze in the event, but Commonwealth Games Federation still wants cricket in the Games.

Melbourne: The international cricket calendar is too crammed to squeeze in the event, but Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) is still optimistic that things would change in future.

CGF President Michael Fennell told BBC Sport, "We've always wanted cricket in the Games because it is an important sport across the Commonwealth."

"It hasn't been back because the world cricket programme is so packed but we hope that will change," he added.

Cricket debuted in the 1998 edition of the event in Kuala Lumpur where South Africa beat Steve Waugh's Australia to win the gold medal, but the game was dropped four years later in Manchester.

Seven Test-playing nations took part in the 1998 Games with individual nations of the the West Indies fielding separate

teams.

However, the 50-overs-a-side format made it a lengthy affair and Twenty20 is now regarded as an alternative way out.

Scotland, bidding for the 2014 Games in Glasgow, have expressed their willingness to have cricket back among the disciplines.

However, in India, the game is unlikely to be part of disciplines in the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games.

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) was keen to have the game, but BCCI seemed reluctant to such a proposal.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India has made it clear that they are not game for a Twenty20 tournament.

BCCI feels there is no need to encourage this slam-bang format in the country and gave IOA a cold shoulder.

A miffed IOA President Suresh Kalmadi said in clear terms that he was not insisting to have cricket either and instead, IOA would promote Olympic sports.

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