Cricket to bid for inclusion in 2028 Olympic Games

The game’s governing body has slated the Los Angeles Games in 2028 as its principal aim, followed by Brisbane in 2032 and beyond

The ICC has confirmed its intention to bid for cricket’s inclusion in the Olympic Games.

The sport’s governing body has slated the Los Angeles Games in 2028 as its principal aim, followed by Brisbane in 2032 and beyond.

Cricket has only previously appeared once – in 1900, hosted by Paris – though it will return to the Commonwealth Games next year, following a 24-year hiatus, in Birmingham.

ICC chair Greg Barclay said: “Our sport is united behind this bid, and 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.”

ECB chair Ian Watmore will lead an Olympic working group commissioned by the ICC.

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 Paraag Marathe.