Is cricket making a return at the 2028 Olympics? The IOC has a negative view of cricket. Cricket hasn’t been in the Olympics in a long time since it takes five days to play. The ICC is optimistic that cricket will be featured in the Olympics again, thanks to the popularity of T20 cricket and the fact that it takes less time to play this format. It is not certain that the T20 format will be considered if cricket is included in the Olympics again. The ICC is pushing to return cricket to the Olympics and some actions have already been taken.
The ICC’s Initiatives to bring cricket back to the Olympics
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has already started the process of bringing cricket back to the Olympics.A working committee has already been formed for this purpose. The committee will take steps to include cricket in the Olympics. The ICC’s initial objective is to get cricket included in the 2028 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
England and Wales Cricket Board Chairman Ian Watmore will lead the ICC Olympic Working Group. Indra Nooyi (ICC’s Independent Director), Tavengwa Mukuhlani (ICC Associate Member Director), Mahinda Vallipuram (Vice President of the ACC), and Parag Marathe (Chairman of USA Cricket) will accompany him.
As per the ICC, the inclusion of cricket in the 2028 Olympics itinerary will be a big achievement. Moreover, cricket is followed by over a billion people worldwide, including over 30 million cricket enthusiasts in the United States. Therefore, cricket should be included in the Olympic Games if the commercial aspect of the game is considered.
Cricket will be included at the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. The International Cricket Council officials believe this will be an ideal platform to exhibit what this sport can contribute to the Olympics.
Cricket was last played at the Summer Olympics in Paris in 1900, with just Great Britain and the hosts France competing. The only cricket match at the Olympics was held between Great Britain and France. It was a low-scoring contest and in the end, Great Britain won the match by 156 runs.
Source: United News of Bangladesh