Gavaskar wants cricket back at Commonwealth Games

Despite a lukewarm reception on its debut eight years ago, Sunil Gavaskar supports the idea of cricket returning to the Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Cricket has not made a return to the Games since 1998 when it was deemed a relative non-starter due to the fact that the participating countries sent sub-par teams. England even declined to send a team because the Games clashed with the close of the county season.

Gavaskar recognised the fact that the experiment had hit a roadblock the first time around but was hopeful of another introduction given that the next Games would be hosted in India. "As a cricketer, I'd love the exposure it'd give our game, getting cricket in would be a boost," Gavaskar has been reported as saying to BBC Sport. "The experience of 1998 wasn't a very good one - one major cricket-playing country decided to stay away and others sent second-string sides. Having cricket in the Commonwealth Games will be great, but if countries are not going to field full-strength sides it's better it doesn't come in."

There has been considerable debate over the length of cricket to be played at the Games. The organisers of the event have preferred a 50-over format while the ICC has pushed for a Twenty20 competition. The Indian board has not been in favour of a 20-over tournament either - the reduced one-day game has yet to take off in India - and the Indian Olympic Association has maintained that the responsibility of promoting the cause of cricket at the Games is with the board.

Earlier this month, Michael Fennell, the Commonwealth Games Federation president, said he was keen on including the sport in four years' time. "We've always wanted cricket in the Games because it is an important sport across the Commonwealth," he said. "It hasn't been back because the world cricket programme is so packed but we hope that will change."