Geet Sethi criticises BCCI for Asian Games snub

Eight-time world billiards champion Geet Sethi on Wednesday lashed out at the Cricket Board for not sending the Indian teams for this year's Asian Games in Guangzhou, saying the BCCI is only concerned about commercial benefits and country's pride comes last for it.

The BCCI had on Tuesday said that due to prior international commitments it will not send either the men's or the women's team for the Asian Games, where cricket in the form of Twenty20, will make its debut in the multi-discipline event to be held in Guangzhou, China from November 12 to 27.

India would host New Zealand for a three-Test and five ODI series during the same time when the Asian Games is scheduled and Sethi said BCCI's decision was influenced by commercial interests.

"It is a wrong decision as it will deprive India of one gold medal," Sethi told reporters here. "Those who are running the BCCI should not think commercially but instead should take into consideration the nation's pride," he said.

Sethi, who is in Goa to participate in the second national selection tournament for the Asian Games, said he was confident that India would win at least two gold medals each in billiards and snooker.

The former Khel Ratna Awardee said it was the sheer love for the sport that motivated him to continue playing billiards.

"I played snooker also but was not good in it. So, I concentrated in billiards since 1992," said a modest Sethi, who was the first amateur in the world to compile the maximum 147 break in snooker.