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ACC lobbies for inclusion of cricket in 2023 SEA Games

Jose Rodriguez T. Senase / Khmer Times Share:
L-R: CAC Secretary-General Nhim Saphorn, ACC GM Thusith Perera, ACC Development Chairman Mahinda Vallipuram, NOCC Secretary-General Vath Chamroeun, SCA President Mahmood Gaznavi and CAC CEO Manish Sharma after their meeting at one of the restaurants in Phnom Penh early this week. Supplied

Several officials of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) were in Cambodia recently to lobby for the inclusion of cricket in the 2023 Southeast Asian Games.

The ACC delegation, which arrived in the Kingdom on June 26, was led by Development Chairman/Executive Board Member Mahinda Vallipuram.

In an interview on Monday, Vallipuram revealed that they discussed the inclusion of cricket during a meeting with National Olympic Committee of Cambodia (NOCC) Secretary-General Vath Chamroeun and other Cambodian sports officials.

“We received some positive feedback from them. We are hoping for more positive news in the coming weeks,” he said.

The host country’s Olympic Committee makes the decision in consultation with the other members of the SEA Games Federation Council (SGFC).

The initial list of 40 sports that will be included in the next SEA Games was announced during the SGFC meeting in Siem Reap in April.

Cricket is among the sports that are waiting for the SGFC’s decision next month. Also on the list are equestrian, pencak silat, obstacle race and fencing, local media reported.

Phnom Penh will host the next SGFC meeting from July 11 to 13.

The inclusion of cricket, according to him, will be beneficial, not only for Cambodia, but also for other countries in Southeast Asia.

Vallipuram said their effort is backed by the cricket federations in Singapore, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.

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

Vallipuram said the ACC is willing to assist Cambodia develop its facilities if cricket makes the list. The ACC, which counts 25 member countries, is the governing body for cricket in Asia.

Vallipuram was impressed with the cricket ground at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh.

“It only needs minor improvements. We can send an international curator here to assist in designing and improving that facility,” he said.

During the visit, the ACC delegation also had meetings with CAC CEO Manish Sharma and met with the local cricket players.

“Cricket is a sport that can be played and developed by Cambodians,” he stressed. “The ACC is willing to work with the CAC to establish a Strategic Development Plan and for them to achieve their medium and long-term goals.”

The CAC is currently seeking to become a member of the International Cricket Council (ICC). The CAC, which was established in 2011, is already a member of ACC.

The ACC delegation’s Cambodia trip followed a visit by Aminul Islam, ICC Development Manager (Asia).

Islam likewise lobbied for the inclusion of cricket in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games, so did Singapore Cricket Association (SCA) CEO Saad Khan Janjua and SCA President Mahmood Gaznavi, who visited the Kingdom earlier.

“It would benefit everyone in the region, especially Cambodia. Together, we can make cricket one of the most popular sports in Southeast Asia,” Gaznavi said.

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