The ICC has confirmed its intention to push for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympic Games starting with the Los Angeles 2028 edition.
Cricket’s governing body said it had formed a working group to lead the bid.
“Thirty-million cricket fans live in the USA, making LA 2028 the ideal Games for cricket to make its return to Olympic competition,” the ICC said in a statement.
“Cricket, till now, has made just one appearance in the Olympics, way back in 1900 in Paris when only two teams competed at the event – Great Britain and hosts France – meaning the sport’s inclusion in 2028 would mark the end of a 128-year absence.
“The sport will feature in the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games next year, which shapes as a perfect showcase for what the sport can bring to the Olympics, as well as being a momentous occasion on its own.
ICC Chair Greg Barclay said cricket was united behind a bid to win Olympic inclusion saying “we see the Olympics as a part of cricket’s long-term future.
“We have more than a billion fans globally and almost 90 percent of them want to see cricket at the Olympics.
“Clearly cricket has a strong and passionate fanbase, particularly in South Asia where 92% of our fans come from whilst there are also 30 million cricket fans in the USA. The opportunity for those fans to see their heroes competing for an Olympic medal is tantalising.”
“We believe cricket would be a great addition to the Olympic Games, but we know it won’t be easy to secure our inclusion as there are so many other great sports out there wanting to do the same. But we feel now is the time to put our best foot forward and show what a great partnership cricket and the Olympics are.”
The ICC Olympic Working Group will be chaired by England and Wales Cricket Board Chair Ian Watmore. He will be joined by ICC Independent Director Indra Nooyi, Chair of Zimbabwe Cricket Tavengwa Mukuhlani, ICC Associate Member Director and Vice President of the Asian Cricket Council Mahinda Vallipuram and Chair of USA Cricket Parag Marathe.
Sedz
Guest
30 million seems stretched but I think Indian diaspora is above 5 million in United States. It includes US citizens who are naturalized citizens as well as non-immigrants who are deployed through employment visas etc., Add the vast number of Caribbean’s as well as other cricket nations like Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and South Africa. Audience might be between 15 million I guess.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Make it a women's only comp.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Why don’t they get swimming issues re timing fixed, let Pentathlon riders have their own horses and train decent athletic stewards to oversee the relays. First!
killaku
Roar Rookie
This guy is dreaming,Mistaking a cricket bat for a Louisville slugger.No one here knows what that is.
Tempo
Roar Rookie
Highly doubt there are 30 million cricket fans living in the US. That's nearly 10% of the population. I doubt 10% of the population regularly follow cricket in England, let alone the USA.
matth
Roar Guru
I'm okay with it. If they can have 3 on 3 basketball, under 23 football, 7's rugby etc then a entry level style of cricket would be fine. Remember too that this means many additional countries would fund cricket in their home countries potentially expanding the sport in a big way.
matth
Roar Guru
It would have to be T20 to fit into an Olympic schedule. The biggest problem may well be sufficient grounds and pitch preparation to play 2 x full T20 tournaments in a two week period (remember that every new sport must have equal competition in mens and womens). From a purely sporting point of view cricket deserves it's inclusion as much as many sports already on the program. But a lot will depend on money. Will it increase broadcasting rights? Will it appeal to youth? I'd say yes because you'd imagine Indian broadcasters would pay more for an Olympics coverage including cricket.
Tony
Roar Guru
Seema utterly pointless then
matth
Roar Guru
It would have to be, there simply wouldn't be time for a meaningful ODI tournament at the Olympics.
Clear as mud
Guest
we once played live to air on our radio show. great game for radio!
raj
Guest
Cricket doesn't seem to be too bothered about not being in all the other Games Very little interest outside the Commonwealth - Afghanistan , Ireland , Netherlands and UAE are the only non Commonwealth countries to qualify in a Cricket WC ( although Thailand played in the last Women's T20 ) Ok South Asia has a lot of people but are they significant players in the IOC ? Britain and Australia are but they are the only pro cricket nations in really the top 15 all time medalling countries . I'd say that the other 13 would choose baseball/softball over cricket given a choice
JGK
Roar Guru
It is a worry. How long would Rashid Khan need to live here before he qualifies to play for Australia?
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Cricket was widely played in Pakistan and Bangladesh when the Taliban first rules Afghanistan, so not sure what connection you are trying to make? Secondly, even if the Taliban have gradually begun to embrace sport (which I don't think is true), Afghanistan isn't going to be able to field a team. 1. I think they are going to be diplomatically isolated for a start. Countries are just going to stop playing them on principle. 2. I can't imagine anyone in the team would want to be representing Afghanistan under Taliban rule, and if they can do so, are gonna flee. All the good work, all the great stories, all the redemption - gone. Dark times ahead. This is going to be a
The PTA has disbanded
Guest
Rashid Khan should relocate to NZ and qualify to play for them. He's still young so he can sit on the pine for a few years and come back with at least 10 years of service to give. There will be many tragedies to come from the Taliban (re)takeover, and Rashid Khan not being able to represent Afghanistan ever again will be one of them.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
as sad as it is, in case of Afghanistan, pretty funny comment.
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
why not, baseball and cricket
Nick Symonds
Guest
"by 2028 it will probably be T10" - WIKIPEDIA: T10 cricket or Ten10 cricket[1] is a short form of cricket. Two teams play a single innings, which is restricted to a maximum of ten overs per side, with the game lasting 90 minutes.[2] The first competition using this format took place in December 2017, the opening season of the T10 League in the United Arab Emirates. The International Cricket Council (ICC) officially sanctioned the league.[3] In May 2020, Eoin Morgan, the captain of the England cricket team, supported the idea of using the format at the Olympics,[4][5] with former international cricketers Virender Sehwag and Shahid Afridi also supporting the idea.[6][7]
JGK
Roar Guru
No idea actually. They hate sport generally but you are right I think, cricket might be an exception given it is played widely by Pakistan and Bangladesh too.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
During the 2015 world cup there was breaking news that the Taliban had started to embrace and endorse cricket. Has this changed significantly for the worse since then?
JGK
Roar Guru
The West Indies would have to play as individual countries. And the Taliban would have taken Afghanistan out of the ICC and IOC by then. So we might squeak in.