DOHA, Dec 5: Cricket has a chance of being included in future Asian Games, said the President of the Olympic Council of Asia here on Tuesday.

Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah revealed there had been discussions regarding the introduction of the sport into the Games and he hoped that they would reach an agreement.

“It would be wonderful to have India and Pakistan and all the other Asian countries that play cricket competing at the Asian Games,” said Sheikh Ahmad.

“We have started discussions on including it and they are ongoing.”Cricket was last seen at a major Games in the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur but has not been included since despite the fact cricketing countries like England and Australia have been the last two hosts.

It made its one and only appearance at the Olympics in Paris in 1900 where in a two day match Great Britain - represented by a touring team Devon and Somerset Wanderers - beat France, whose team mainly consisted of members of the British Embassy.

The British received a silver medal while the French received a bronze and both also got statues of the Eiffel Tower.—AFP

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