Mumbai: Cricket featured in the Olympics just once – in the 1900 Games in Paris.
Set for a return to the world’s biggest sporting extravaganza after 128 years, the team game will see six teams vying for gold in both the men’s and women’s events at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
A total of 90 players will participate in men’s and women’s cricket, thus allowing squads of 15 players each, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed.
Cricket is one of five new sports to be included in the LA Olympics, alongside squash, flag football, baseball/softball and lacrosse.
The cricket events will be held in the sport’s shortest format – 20 overs per side, which has emerged as the most popular around the world.
The qualification process/criterion will have to be worked out by the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Though ICC has 12 only full members — Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, the West Indies and Zimbabwe – more than 100 nations play T20 International cricket.
Hence, it will be interesting to see how ICC decide the 6 participating teams, especially with the USA likely to receive a direct entry into the tournament because they are the hosts.
Jay Shah, Chairman of ICC, is working on a long-term strategy to ensure that cricket features in future Olympic Games, including Brisbane 2032.
India has expressed a serious interest to bid for the 2036 Olympics, and cricket would surely be a major crowd puller if the world’s most populous nation does host the Games.
