Agency report
Lahore, Nov 24: Though he himself is fond of the bat-ball game, International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has ruled out Olympic game status for cricket in the near future.
''The International Cricket Council itself has not applied for Olympic membership and the game is unlikely to get entry into the IOC community though I myself am fond of cricket,'' Rogge, who is visiting Pakistan, told reporters in Islamabad after meeting President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz.
However, he said that the IOC would decide on squash's Olympic status in 2009. He said the IOC was keen to include this game in the 2016 Olympics.
''The host city of 2016 Olympics would be decided in 2009 and at that time the sports to be played in 2016 Olympics will also be decided,'' he explained.