Asian Cricket Council has urged the Southeast Asian Games Federation to include cricket in the SEA Games

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has urged organisers of the 2023 Southeast Asian Games to include cricket as one of the sports. ACC board member Mahinda Vallipuram told Malaysian news agency Bernama that ACC officials had a talk with delegates from the Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF) about including cricket at the event, and a decision could be announced next week.

“So, we went to Cambodia to meet the secretary general of the National Olympic Committee of Cambodia, and we negotiated with the Southeast Asian Games Federal Council to include cricket in the SEA games,” Mr Vallipuram was quoted as saying by Sport Business.

“Right now, we are looking at the cricket associations in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Myanmar and Philippines to provide confirmation on this,” he added.

The list of 40 sports that will be included in the next SEA Games was announced in April, but more sports can be added to the list. The host country’s Olympic Committee consults with the other members of the SEA Games Federation Council before including a new sport. Equestrian, Pencak silat, obstacle race and fencing are other sports on which a decision is awaited.

“Cricket is the second most-watched sport in the world,” he pointed out. “It will be an important step for Cambodia if cricket is included in the next SEA Games,” Mr Vallipuram said.

He also said that the T20 format of the sport will be included in the game if the federation agrees. “If cricket is included in the SEA Games, most probably there will be two formats, T20 men and women.”

The 2023 SEA Games will be the 32nd edition of the multi-sport event. It will be held from 5 to 16 May 2023 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. All 11 members of the Southeast Asian Games Federation will take part in the 2023 SEA Games. Along with the host country, the other 10 countries are Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam.