Cricket will become a medal sport at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou - much to the delight of the Hong Kong Cricket Association (HKCA), which hopes the region's smaller nations will be included in the inaugural competition.
'While we are associate members of the International Cricket Council [ICC], we are full members of the Asian Cricket Council [ACC]. I hope the 2010 Asian Games will offer the chance for teams like us to compete. We are awaiting details,' said HKCA secretary John Cribbin yesterday.
On Tuesday, the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) congress decided cricket would become a new sport at the Asian Games. The decision was taken after it was mooted that Asia's test-playing nations - India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh - would send their best teams to Guangzhou.
'Cricket will be played in 2010,' said OCA president Sheikh Ahmad al-Fahad al-Sabah. 'India and Pakistan were behind the move and we are discussing with them how we can arrange it. Pakistan and India will come with their best teams because it will be a big competition.'
With China actively pursuing the development of cricket - the Chinese Cricket Association intends being a one-day force by the 2019 World Cup - and with Guangzhou hosting the quadrennial games, it is believed the format will include teams other than the big four. It will be played on a one-day, 50-overs format.
'Now that cricket has been included, we hope the organising committee remembers the sport is widely played in the region,' Cribbin said. 'The fact China itself is pushing for the development of the game should help the case of the smaller sides.'