Cricket is one of the most-followed sports across the world. However, it is yet to get a place in the Olympics. Every sports fan would know that the Tokyo Olympics is underway at the moment, but cricket is not a part of it. The International Cricket Council (ICC) has been working hard in that direction.
Cricket fans would hope that the sport gets recognition in the multi-sports event. Speaking of multi-sports event, not many would know that cricket was a part of the Commonwealth Games in the year 1998. There were 16 teams that participated in a mini tournament played in Malaysia. Here are a few things that you might not remember about Cricket at 1998 Commonwealth Games.
1. South Africa won the gold medal
Generally, the South African team has lost the most crucial matches in the global cricketing events. However, in 1998, the Proteas won the gold medal in this sport at the Commonwealth Games. South Africa was a part of Group C with Barbados, Northern Ireland and Bangladesh.
Shaun Pollock captained the South African squad and they topped Group C by winning all three matches. The Proteas then beat Sri Lanka by one wicket in a thrilling semifinal match and clinched the gold medal by defeating Australia by four wickets.
2. West Indies was split into three teams
The Commonwealth Games is a multi-sports event where every country has to field its own team. The West Indies is a union of many countries. However, in the 1998 Commonwealth Games, the West Indian cricketers represented their own countries.
Barbados, Jamaica and Antigua and Barbuda were the three teams that participated in that competition. None of them were able to qualify for the semifinals.
3. Indian cricket team finished below Antigua and Barbuda in Group B
India played under the captaincy of Ajay Jadeja in the 1998 Commonwealth Games. The Indian team was in Group B along with Australia, Antigua and Barbuda and Canada. Australia qualified for the semifinals by winning all three group stage matches.
Surprisingly, Antigua and Barbuda finished higher than India in the standings. Both teams had three points each from three matches, but the net run rate of Antigua and Barbuda, captained by Dave Joseph, was better than India.
4. MSK Prasad kept the wickets for the Indian cricket team
MSK Prasad was the chief selector of Team India for quite some time. He was always in the news because of the decisions made by the selection committee during his tenure. Prasad had not played much international cricket for India, but he represented the country in the 1998 Commonwealth Games.
Prasad was the wicket-keeper of the team. The squad also featured the likes of Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Rohan Gavaskar, Robin Singh, Nikhil Chopra and other Indian players.
5. Australia bowled out New Zealand for 58 runs in semifinal
The New Zealand team qualified for the semifinals after beating Pakistan, Kenya and Scotland in Group D. They met Australia in the semifinals.
The Kiwis surprisingly got all out for just 58 runs in the crucial match. Still, they managed to take the bronze medal home as they beat Sri Lanka in the bronze medal match.
