The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has cited prior international commitments to justify its decision to not send a Twenty20 team to participate in this year's Asian Games in China. Consider a scenario where the BCCI were to choose between Indian cricket team's participation in the Olympics and a tour to New Zealand. No medals for guessing the BCCI's choice!

The larger issue, though, is whether the government should allow the BCCI to decide for the country, especially in cases where the nation's prestige and international commitments are involved. The BCCI might always choose money over medals. But should the government allow the BCCI to decide for the country?

In Asian Games, just as in Olympics, India, as a member country, owes it to the event and the host country as much as to the spectators to ensure enthusiastic participation. If governments across the world were to let bodies like the BCCI decide on such matters, events such as Asian Games and the Olympics would scarcely attract the best sporting talent. Don't forget the political significance of such events and decisions either. Pakistan has gleefully announced that it is going to send a strong squad to Guangzhou to participate in what will be the first Twenty20 competition in an Asiad. Now, can we really let Pakistan walk away with the gold medal, that too with help from the BCCI?