Afghanistan, Nepal, Hong Kong target Asian Games
Potential participants must apply to the Asian Cricket Council to take part in the men's and women's tournaments, to be played using the Twenty20 format
Tony Munro
25-Feb-2013
Tony Munro
Afghanistan, Nepal and Hong Kong are the latest non-Test countries to indicate they will apply for inclusion in the cricket section of the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November.
Potential participants must apply to the Asian Cricket Council to take part in the men's and women's tournaments, to be played using the Twenty20 format.
India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh are expected to field teams, although there is doubt their squads will be full strength. As the hosts, China are an automatic inclusion, while Japan had earlier said they will apply.
Eligibility is restricted to passport holders. The Asian Hong Kong Cricket Association General Manager, Danny Lai, told the Asian Cricket Council website this wouldn't be a problem for the men's team. "We will have no problems, all the Pakistanis have Hong Kong passports,” he said. “The best of the Under-19s currently in New Zealand for the World Cup will feature as well as the seniors in the squad we send to Guangzhou."