MANCHESTER, July 23: Commonwealth Games organisers are keen to give cricket a long-term place in the event, especially with cricket-mad India bidding for the 2010 Games.

In an interview with Reuters, Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF) chairman Mike Fennell said it would be difficult to get the limited overs discipline into the Games in the next four years but officials were keeping an “dialogue open” with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on the issue.

“For the next four to five years, it is very doubtful that it can be done because of a packed programme,” Fennell said before Thursday’s start to the Games in Manchester. “The ICC feel the cricket calendar is packed already.

“(But) We try to ensure that the programme reflects the Commonwealth. Netball and cricket are team sports like that. It should be ideal with one women’s and one men’s competition. In India it is a sport that would guarantee crowds.”

One-day cricket was introduced at the last Games in Kuala Lumpur in 1998, together with other team sports such as hockey, netball and rugby union sevens. But while the other three sports are being contested in Manchester, cricket is not on the 17-discipline programme.

Organisers of the next Games in Melbourne in 2006 have decided to add basketball to the programme but cricket is unlikely to make it.

Last week the ICC discussed player burn-out at a meeting with captains of the leading test-playing nations in London. Cricket is keen to make sure players do not contest too many games but the Commonwealth Games option is still being considered.—Reuters