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While hitting out at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for backing out from the XVIth Asian Games, Suresh Kalmadi, the President of Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Chairman of the Commonwealth Games Organising Committee said he never wanted cricket to be a part of the Olympic movement. Speaking to the media persons here on Thursday, Kalmadi said: "I have never been keen on cricket being a part of Olympic sports because then Olympic sports get hurt. And cricket has become very commercial and there are only medals there, there is no money. So, I don't think anybody from the cricket world is interested in taking part in Olympic sports." He further mentioned that he knew that BCCI would take such a decision. "They were saying that they were coming for the Asian games and they have backed out now, I knew this would happen," added Suresh Kalmadi. Earlier, Sports Minister M S Gill had also said that the game of cricket doesn't fit in the events of Olympic Games. He also described Indian cricketers as a tired lot and quipped that even racing horses are rested. The sixteenth Asian Games also known as the XVI Asiad is to be held in Guangzhou in China from November 12 to 27 this year. Guangzhou will be the second city in China to host the games after Beijing in 1990. About forty-two events are scheduled for this edition of the Asian Games.

Never wanted cricket to be a part of Olympics: Kalmadi