By Tom Degun

South Africa_team_26_JuneJune 26 - Prince Tunku Imran, President of the Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF), is set to present to the International Cricket Council (ICC) Executive Board meeting in Kuala Lumpur tomorrow as his organisation continues its drive to have the sport included in the Commonwealth Games.

The 64-year-old Malaysian (pictured below) became CGF President in November last year and immediately insisted one of his key priorities was to get the sport reintroduced.

That desire came as no major surprise given that Prince Imran served as an Executive Board member of the ICC in two spells from 1997 to 1999 and 2001 to 2008, and remains a popular and influential figure in the world of cricket.

Prince Tunku_Imran_26_June
"Cricket is synonymous with the Commonwealth and it belongs in the Commonwealth Games," he said shortly after being elected President.

"The CGF will be talking to the ICC and the cricketing authorities of Commonwealth countries on the best route to bring Twenty20 cricket into future editions.

"It would mean Caribbean countries could compete under their own flag."

He added: "This would be enormously popular with both fans and cricketers.

"It would be a fantastic tournament."

Steve Waugh_26_June
Senior figures in the ICC are hopeful that cricket could feature in the Commonwealth Games as soon as 2018, when the event will be held in Gold Coast City, Australia.

It would prove a popular move in Australia, a strong cricketing nation which, despite an unbeaten 90 from Steve Waugh (pictured above), was beaten in the final by South Africa (pictured top) the last – and only – time the event was held at the Commonwealth Games, ironically in Kuala Lumpur in 1998.

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