As things stand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has reluctantly agreed to field both men’s and women’s teams in Asian Games 2023. However, as the Asiad in Hangzhou will clash with World Cup 2023, a second-string team will take the field in the T20 format cricket. Who will lead the men’s team, BCCI is currently clueless. As for the women’s team, a full-fledged first team will play.
The idea is to form a team with players who will not make it to the 18-member World Cup squad. But who leads the team is a question that BCCI is leaving the decision to the selectors. The reason is that Asian Games 2023 begins on September 23 and will end on October 8 while World Cup starts on October 5.
“We don’t know yet. We have to see who make it to the World Cup squad and only then can we finalise the team. There are many multi-format players and of course, as Hardik will be in World Cup, he is not going to Asian Games,” a senior BCCI official told InsideSport.
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On Saturday, an Indian Express report confirmed that BCCI will send both men’s and women’s teams to the Asian Games 2023. Initially, the BCCI refused to send teams due to “prior commitments”. However, upon request from the Sports Ministry, the BCCI has changed its stance for now.
The two front-runners to lead Team India would be Ruturaj Gaikwas and Yashasvi Jaiswal if they don’t make it to the WC squad. The rest of the squad will be made up of mostly U-23 and IPL performers. Besides them, players who have been identified as emerging players by the NCA will also be considered. It is set to be an India A team.
India Women’s Cricket Team will have no engagements as such in September apart from domestic cricket. India Women’s tour of Bangladesh ends on July 22. In that case, India will have Harmanpreet Kaur free to lead the side.
Team India will have to take a call on the Asian Games squad by next month as the players and coaches will need a Chinese visa. Unlike other cricket-playing nations, getting a Chinese visa has not been an easy task. Once the squad is picked, it will have to be forwarded to the sports ministry.
“We are still in discussions with the IOA and the Sports Ministry on the requirements as well as the number of players and support staff. We will know more in the coming days. We are sending the team is still not a done deal,” the official said.
It should be noted that India did not send a team to Asiad in 2010 and 2014. The last time India took part in Asiad cricket was back in 1998.
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