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Here is a good news for cricket fanatics. The forth-coming Asian Games at Guangzhou, China will have cricket as one of the disciplines as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has decided to induct Twenty20 format for the first time. The decision to include cricket in the Asian Games was finalized at the OCA general assembly meeting held at Kuwait. During the meeting its was decided that cricket will find a place as a discipline in the Games for both men and women.
The Twenty20 cricket at 2010 Asian Games will take place between 11-27 November. According to OCA president, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah, India and Pakistan will be the key teams in the Asian Games. He informed that the four cricket playing nations of Asia have assured to send their teams in the Games. Al-Sabah feels that both Indian and Pakistani boards will pick up their best squads for the Guangzhou Asian Games.
Along with the host nation China, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh have automatically qualified for the competition. All the other member nations will have to play a qualifying round for the three remaining spots through a series of qualifiers. In short, eight teams will participate in the Asian Games T20 competition. Cricket as a discipline was inducted in 1900 Olympic Games when Great Britain beat France to win the gold medal. The 2010 Asian Games at Guangzhou, scheduled to be held on November 11, will showcase as many as 42 disciplines.
