Cricket is poised to make a triumphant return to the Olympic Games, marking its comeback after more than a century.
This exciting development comes as the International Olympic Committee (IOC) announced the inclusion of cricket, among other sports, in the proposed line-up for the Games set to take place in Los Angeles in five years’ time.
The proposed sports roster, unveiled by the organizers, comprises cricket, baseball-softball, flag football (a limited-contact variant of American football), lacrosse, and squash. Following the announcement, the Olympic Programme Commission of the IOC will deliberate on the LA28 proposal, subsequently presenting its recommendation to the IOC Executive Board.
The final decision on the inclusion of these sports will be made during the 141st IOC Session scheduled from October 15 to 17 in Mumbai, India. Notably, this location coincides with the ongoing ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.
Cricket’s inclusion a monumental step, says CWI boss
Dr. Kishore Shallow, president of Cricket West Indies, hailed the recommendation for cricket’s inclusion, describing it as a monumental step that could open up significant opportunities for cricket and the Caribbean community. He commended all stakeholders for their efforts in advancing the ambitious proposal.
If approved, the exact format and number of athlete quotas for the additional sports in LA28 will be determined in the future. Of the five proposed sports, cricket, along with two others, has a historical connection with the Olympics. However, unlike its previous appearance at the 1900 Parish Games, cricket will not be contested in the traditional two-innings-a-side format.
The proposed format for cricket in the Olympics in Twenty20, a more recent and spectator-friendly version of the sport.
Media reports suggest that the ICC recommended a six-team tournament for both men and women to the LA28 organizing committee.
ICC boss expresses delight
These teams would be selected based on their rankings in the ICC’s men’s and women’s T20 rankings as of a specified cut-off date. This process mirrors the one employed for cricket’s return to the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham last year.
The choice of T20 format was influenced by LA28 and the IOC’s emphasis on selecting a format that could host a world championship, have a concise duration (ruling out 50-overs-a-side One-Day Internationals), and generate significant spectator interest.
ICC president Greg Barclay expressed his delight at the recommendation for cricket, highlighting its historic significance and global appeal. He thanked LA28 for their support throughout the evaluation process.
Cricket, with its widespread popularity, has recently made appearances in other international multisport events. Its debut at the 1998 Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur featured three Caribbean men’s teams competing in a 16-team tournament under the 50-overs-a-side format, with South Africa emerging as the victors. Among the Caribbean sides, Bangladesh, led by Philo Wallace, achieved the highest placement, finishing sixth, while Antigua and Barbuda and Jamaica secured the eighth and 10th positions, respectively, under the captaincy of Dave Joseph and Jimmy Adams.
