Cricket will return at the Asian Games in Hangzhou later this year but India is unlikely to play there due to their commitments. However, few expected India’s men’s team to take part in the September Games, risking their injury-prone before the Twenty20 World Cup in Australia from October 16 as well.

On the other hand, participation of the women’s team, who will take part in the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in July-August, now also looks uncertain as well. Meanwhile, the Games coincide with the women’s team’s limited-overs series in England where they are scheduled to play three ODIs and an equal number of Twenty20 Internationals as well. On the other hand, hosting India is a lucrative proposition for any board and Jay Shah said playing bilateral serious was important in a post-coronavirus world too.

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“As far as the Asian Games in Hangzhou is concerned, a final decision on whether to send both men’s and women’s teams will be taken later and based on our existing commitments,” BCCI secretary Jay Shah told Reuters. “The BCCI has always stood by member boards and helped them in these difficult times. The board firmly believes in honouring its bilateral commitments.”

“We are committed to our fans here in India and it is absolutely important that we safeguard our home season. The FTP that has been created needs to be adhered to,” he said, referring to the game’s Future Tours Programme calendar,” he again added.

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“The BCCI and ICC are on the same page on this and agree that the inclusion of cricket in the Olympics is good for the growth of the game,” concluded Jay Shah.