Cricket unlikely at 2010 Games

The chances of cricket being part of the 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi are diminishing, with the BCCI and Indian Olympic Association (IOA) unable to come to any firm decisions.

The BCCI are not in favour of a 20-over tournament - the reduced one-day game has yet to take off in India - while the IOA are saying that the responsibility of organising a place for cricket is firmly with the board.

Following the board meeting, treasurer N Srinivasan said: "The BCCI does not want to play 20-20 cricket in the Commonwealth Games. We think that format should not be encouraged."

Niranjan Shah, the board secretary, said they would consider their position if the IOA came up with a proposal to have the conventional one-day format at the Games.

However, the IOA President, Suresh Kalmadi said it was the duty of the BCCI as the host sporting federation to decide on what format to have. He added the BCCI first had to decide "whether they want to be part of the Commonwealth Games. We are not insisting on whether it should be 20-20 or 50-50. It is for the ICC and the BCCI to decide."

Kalmadi said that with the general assembly of the CWG Federation meeting on March 10, in Melbourne, to decide on the list of sports to be part of the 2010 Games, "time is running out" for the BCCI.

"First they have to say whether they want to be part of CWG, after all it involves many countries. Basically it is the BCCI's responsibility as hosting federation. They have to take the lead. The ball is still in their court. But at this pace, cricket may not be part of 2010 Games."