Asian Games 2023: Indian cricket teams to play for the first time

The men’s and women’s Indian cricket teams will participate in the Asian Games 2023 to be held in Hangzhou, the People's Republic of China, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed on Friday.

The Asian Games are scheduled from September 23 to October 8 this year. India will send teams for the Asian Games cricket competition for the first time.

With the men’s ODI Cricket World Cup in India starting on October 5, the BCCI is expected to field a second-string side for the men’s event.

However, a full-strength Indian cricket team will be available for the women's event. India had initially opted not to field teams for the Asian Games due to other international commitments.

"Through effective planning, communication and coordination, the BCCI aims to navigate those challenges successfully and contribute to the national cause by fielding a team in both men's and women's categories (at Asian Games) in line with the Government of India's directions," the BCCI said.

Cricket has featured at the Asian Games twice – in 2010 and 2014. The sport was left out of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta.

Bangladesh won the men’s cricket gold medal at the 2010 Guangzhou while Sri Lanka emerged as champions in 2014. In women’s cricket, Pakistan won the gold in both editions.

The matches in the upcoming edition of the Asian Games have been accorded international status by the International Cricket Council (ICC). Both men’s and women’s cricket will be played in the T20 International (T20I) format.