KUALA LUMPUR – The inclusion of cricket in the 2024 Malaysia Games (Sukma) would be an added boost in developing grassroots players and, more importantly, retaining talent, said the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA).
Its president Mohammed Iqbal Ali Kassim Ali said the biennial Games are a critical platform for the development of young athletes in the country.
He said the association hopes to leverage on this to scout and retain Malaysia’s top cricket prospects by the time the sport is contested in Sarawak next year.
In the statement, he also lauded cricket’s inclusion at next year’s Sukma as “an important step in unity and development”.
“MCA extends its appreciation to (the) Sarawak Cricket Association and the respective (state sports councils) for their efforts to ensure the inclusion of cricket,” he said in a statement.
Iqbal said the leadership of Sarawak Youth, Sports, and Entrepreneur Development Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has been integral to the successful bid to include cricket at the 2024 Sukma.
He said it was now possible to have a positive future outlook with the support from the Sarawak government and that MCA expects that cricket at next year’s Games would set a new benchmark for the sport in Borneo.
Meanwhile, he also showered praise on Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh for her effort to include the five additional sports at the Games, noting that she continues to go down to the ground and listen to the needs of all stakeholders.
Iqbal said Malaysia is fortunate to have Hannah as sports minister and that he believed sports would grow tenfold under her leadership.
“Malaysian Cricket salutes you for all your efforts and sincere dedication to the challenges faced now and your vision of the future,” he said.
Apart from cricket, Hannah on June 12 said a Sukma supreme committee meeting had decided that softball, chess, kabaddi, and silambam would be contested at the 2024 Sukma, scheduled to be held from August 17 to 24. – Bernama, June 14, 2023
