Admitting that talks with the Asian Cricket Council had broken down, the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) on Monday said cricket would not be part of the 2006 Games in December.
"We were hoping to have 40 disciplines but the Olympic Council of Asia decided to drop cricket because of their tight schedule," Deputy Director General (Corporate Support) of DAGOC Ahmed Al-Khulaifi told reporters in New Delhi.
"Also they (Asian Cricket Council) were ready only to send the U-19 teams," he said.
OCA Secretary General Randhir Singh said talks were held between the DAGOC and the ACC.
"We are still keen to include cricket and also we are trying to have cricket on board for the 2010 Delhi Commonwealth Games and the Asian Games in 2014 which India is bidding to host," Singh said.
Indian Olympic Association President Suresh Kalmadi made it clear that they would not allow a repeat of what happened in Malaysia in 1998.
"We don't want to repeat Kuala Lumpur Commonwealth Games when second string teams were fielded. We are keen only if the best teams are going to participate," he said.
When told that FIFA has allowed only U-23 teams to participate in Olympics, Kalmadi said, "From an Indian perspective we are keen to help Olympic sports. We don't want to dilute our Olympic efforts."
